Fuel cell system without a high-pressure hydrogen supply line and control method thereof

Abstract

Fuel cell system, wherein the fuel cell system comprises: a gas filling line (100) formed between a gas filling station and a high-pressure vessel (10) which is filled with gas by the gas filling station; a gas supply line (200) formed between the high-pressure vessel (10) and a stack; a regulator (300) provided in the gas supply line (200); a solenoid valve (400) provided in the gas supply line (200) between the regulator (300) and the high-pressure vessel (10); and a check valve (500) provided in a bypass line connecting a point in the gas supply line (200), which is arranged between the regulator (300) and the solenoid valve (400), and a point in the gas filling line (100); wherein the check valve (500) is a one-way valve configured to allow the gas which flows through the check valve (500),is permitted to be movable only in one direction from the gas supply line (200) to the gas filling line (100), and a high pressure of the gas supply line (200) connected to the solenoid valve (400) is reduced with opening of the check valve (500) for each start immediately after filling, so that a pressure difference is created between a front end and a rear end of the solenoid valve (400), thereby correcting a leak within the solenoid valve (400).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure capable of minimizing a high-pressure line (hereinafter referred to as "high-pressure line") in a hydrogen supply system including a gas supply line and a gas filling line in a vehicle in which a fuel cell system can be mounted. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fuel cell system and a control method thereof, wherein a hydrogen supply system of the fuel cell system includes a regulator (hereinafter referred to as "regulator") provided on a gas supply line extending from a high-pressure container, a solenoid valve provided between the high-pressure container and the regulator, and a check valve connecting the gas supply line and a gas filling line between the regulator and the solenoid valve.When the gas filling line was in a high-pressure state (hereinafter referred to as "high-pressure state"), the check valve is opened so that high-pressure states of the gas filling line and the gas supply line between the regulator and the solenoid valve can be eliminated, thereby reducing the leak points that may be generated in the hydrogen supply system of the fuel cell system. background

[0002] In general, a fuel cell system is composed of a fuel cell stack (or fuel cell stack) that generates electrical energy, a fuel supply system that supplies fuel (e.g., hydrogen, etc.) to the fuel cell stack, an air supply system that supplies air (e.g., oxygen, etc.), which is an oxidant required for an electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell stack, a heat and water management system that controls an operating temperature of the fuel cell stack, and the like. High-pressure compressed hydrogen at a high pressure of approximately 700 bar is stored in a high-pressure vessel (hydrogen vessel) located in the fuel supply system, i.e.,a hydrogen supply system, and the stored compressed hydrogen is discharged to a high-pressure line according to an on / off state of a high-pressure regulator attached to an inlet part of the high-pressure container, and then decompressed while passing through a start valve and a hydrogen supply valve to be supplied to the fuel cell stack.

[0003] The structure from the high-pressure vessel (or storage tank) to the stack of the fuel cell system in this case is described. Valve configurations of the regulator, a hydrogen blocking valve, and the hydrogen supply valves, a conduit through which hydrogen can flow, and various points for mounting (e.g., screwing and / or fitting, etc.) the conduit may be configured. Gas tightness of the hydrogen flowing along the conduit is one of the most important properties related to the safety of the hydrogen supply system and, furthermore, the entire fuel cell system.

[0004] Consequently, high pressure, which is the same as the pressure of the container, is generally applied to the gas filling pipe connected from a connecting device of the gas filling station to the high-pressure container, or to the gas supply pipe connected from the high-pressure container to the regulator for decompression, and to the inside of the high-pressure container, and the respective pipes are connected by assembling (fixing, e.g., screwing and / or fitting, etc.), so that a leak point may be formed by the high pressure applied to the connecting portion. The high-pressure leak point must continuously maintain gas tightness even though high pressure is continuously applied thereto, and as a result, durability and service life are inevitably deteriorated.When designing the hydrogen supply system of the fuel cell system, there is therefore a need for a robust design that focuses on the leak points of the high-pressure gas filling line and / or the gas supply line. The hydrogen supply system was also designed to reduce the high-pressure leak points.

[0005] The above information disclosed in this Background section is provided merely to enhance the understanding of the background of the invention and may therefore contain information that does not constitute prior art as already known to those skilled in the art. Explanation of the invention

[0006] To solve the above problems, high pressure in a gas supply line can be naturally eliminated by using an in-tank regulator or an on-tank regulator that integrates a high-pressure solenoid valve and a decompression regulator. However, even in this case, high pressure applied to a gas filling line connected from a gas filling station, particularly a connecting device of the gas filling station, to a high-pressure vessel is not eliminated and remains.The present invention has therefore been made in an effort to solve the above-described problems associated with the prior art, and provides a structure which eliminates even a high pressure applied to a gas filling pipe to eliminate high-pressure portions of all the gas supply pipes and / or the gas filling pipes which are exposed to the outside, and a control method thereof.

[0007] In one aspect, the present invention provides a fuel cell system without a high-pressure line of a hydrogen supply system, wherein the fuel cell system has a gas filling line (e.g., gas refueling line) formed between a gas filling station (hereinafter referred to as "gas filling station") and a high-pressure container that is filled (e.g., pressure-fueled) with gas by the gas filling station, and a gas supply line formed between the high-pressure container and a (fuel cell) stack, wherein the fuel cell system has: a regulator (e.g., pressure regulating valve, in particular, pressure reducing valve) provided in the gas supply line, a solenoid valve (e.g.,an electromagnetic valve, a solenoid valve) provided in the gas supply line between the regulator and the high-pressure vessel, and a check valve (e.g. backflow prevention valve) provided in a bypass line connecting a point (e.g. location) of the gas supply line between the regulator and the solenoid valve and a point (e.g. location) of the gas filling line.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the fuel cell system may further comprise a pressure sensor which is attached (e.g. screwed) to the gas supply line between the regulator and the solenoid valve.

[0009] In a further preferred embodiment, the check valve may be a one-way valve (e.g., one-direction valve).

[0010] In yet another preferred embodiment, gas flowing through the check valve may be movable only in one direction from the gas supply line to the gas filling line.

[0011] In yet another preferred embodiment, the check valve may be opened after the high-pressure vessel is filled with gas and then subsequently (or next) closed (e.g., opening and closing again depending on the pressure) before the solenoid valve is opened.

[0012] In yet another preferred embodiment, the fuel cell system may further comprise leakage points (or leakage points) at which a leak may occur in a flow path of the gas supply line between the stack and the regulator.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment, the fuel cell system may further comprise leak points at which a leak may occur in a flow path of the gas filling line between the gas filling station and the check valve.

[0014] In another aspect, the present invention can provide a method for controlling a fuel cell system without a high-pressure line of a hydrogen supply system, wherein the fuel cell system includes a gas filling line (e.g., gas refueling line) formed between a gas filling station and a high-pressure vessel filled with gas by the gas filling station, a gas supply line formed between the high-pressure vessel and a (fuel cell) stack, a regulator provided in the gas supply line, a solenoid valve (e.g., an electromagnetic valve, a solenoid valve) provided in the gas supply line between the regulator and the high-pressure vessel, and a check valve (e.g., backflow prevention valve) provided in a bypass line including a point (e.g., location) of the gas supply line between the regulator and the solenoid valve and a point (e.g.,location) of the gas filling line, wherein the method comprises: a step S100 of determining whether an ignition device (e.g. ignition lock device, also called just ignition; English "ignition") of a vehicle to which the fuel cell system can be mounted is in an "ON" state, a step S200 of determining whether the high-pressure container of the fuel cell system is filled by the gas filling station before the vehicle starts (e.g. the vehicle is started and / or starts moving from the "ON" state of the ignition device), a step S300 of measuring a pressure of the gas supply line with a pressure sensor which is attached to the gas supply line between the regulator and the solenoid valve (e.g.screwed on), a step S400 of determining whether the check valve is opened according to the pressure of the gas supply line, and a step S500 of opening the solenoid valve when the check valve was opened in the step S400 and then subsequently closed.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, if in step S400 the pressure of the gas supply line is greater than a predetermined pressure, the check valve may be opened (e.g., the check valve may open).

[0016] In a further preferred embodiment, the method may further comprise: when the check valve is opened in step S400, measuring a time which the pressure of the gas supply line takes to reach a predetermined pressure in step S410 between step S400 and step S500.

[0017] In yet another preferred embodiment, it may be determined that gas is escaping from the gas supply line when the time it takes for the pressure of the gas supply line to reach the predetermined pressure is longer than a predetermined time in step S410.

[0018] Through the above technical solutions, the present invention provides the following effects.

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate high pressure that may be applied to the gas filling line and / or the gas supply line, thereby preventing a leak that may be caused in the gas filling line and / or the gas supply line. That is, with the present invention, it is possible to assume an effect that, except for an inner side of the high-pressure container, there is no line in which high pressure (e.g., a pressure causing a leak) is generated.

[0020] According to the present invention, high pressure in the gas supply line connected to the solenoid valve is eliminated immediately after filling for each start, so that a pressure difference can be created between a front end and a rear end of the solenoid valve, thereby naturally correcting a leak within the solenoid valve. Consequently, it is possible to improve the stability and durability of the solenoid valve.

[0021] According to the present invention, the time required to relieve the high pressure in the gas filling line and / or the gas supply line is measured, making it possible to determine whether gas is escaping from the gas filling line and / or the gas supply line connected to the high-pressure vessel. Consequently, it is possible to anticipate an effect on diagnosing internal leaks and malfunctions of the lines connected to the high-pressure vessel.

[0022] The effect of the present invention / disclosure is not limited to the aforementioned effects. It should be understood that the effect of the present invention / disclosure includes all effects that can be derived from the following description.

[0023] Other aspects and preferred embodiments of the present invention are discussed below.

[0024] It is to be understood that the term "vehicle" or "vehicle-..." or any similar term used herein includes motor vehicles in general, such as passenger vehicles, including so-called sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, numerous commercial vehicles, watercraft, including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels produced from resources other than petroleum). A hybrid vehicle, as referred to herein, is a vehicle that has two or more power sources, e.g., vehicles that run on both gasoline and electricity. List of characters

[0025] The above and other features of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof illustrated by the accompanying drawings, which are given below by way of illustration only and are therefore not limitative of the invention, and in which: Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a general regulator-on-tank technique, Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a general regulator-on-tank technique according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship between structures of a hydrogen supply system and a connection relationship of check valves of a fuel cell system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, Fig.4 is a flowchart illustrating a filling detection logic according to the ignition device of a vehicle in the related art, Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating logic for detecting a fill corresponding to the ignition device of a vehicle and determining whether a check valve is opened, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the case where a high pressure or a lower pressure is formed in each pipe and a configuration immediately after a vehicle equipped with the fuel cell system has been filled according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, Fig.7 is a diagram illustrating the case where a high pressure or a lower pressure is formed in each line and a configuration after a check valve is opened according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the case where a high pressure or a lower pressure is formed in each line and a configuration after a check valve is closed again and then a solenoid valve is opened according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 9 is a graph illustrating a comparison of the number of leak points and the number of high pressure lines between the regulator-on-tank technique according to the present invention and the related art.

[0026] It should be understood that the attached drawings are not necessarily to scale and represent a somewhat simplified representation of various features in order to illustrate the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes disclosed herein, will be dictated (at least) in part by the particular intended application and usage environment.

[0027] In the figures, the same reference numerals refer to the same or equivalent components of the present invention throughout various figures of the drawings. Detailed description

[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention will be described in connection with the exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention to these exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, changes, modifications, and other embodiments that may be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0029] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be modified in various ways, and the scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as limited to the exemplary embodiment described below. The present exemplary embodiment is provided to more fully explain the present invention / disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0030] The terms “..part”, “...unit”, “...module” and the like described in this specification mean units for processing at least one function and one operation and can be implemented by means of hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.

[0031] A fuel cell system mounted on a vehicle may generally include a fuel cell stack that generates electric power, a fuel supply device that supplies fuel (hydrogen) to the fuel cell stack, an air supply device that supplies oxygen, which is an oxidant in the air required for an electrochemical reaction, to the fuel cell stack, a cooling system that dissipates reaction heat of the fuel cell stack to the outside / surroundings of the system and controls an operating temperature of the fuel cell stack, a control device that controls opening / closing of a plurality of valves provided in the fuel cell system, and the like.

[0032] In the fuel cell system, a high-pressure tank for storing a high-pressure gas, preferably hydrogen, is a well-known structure, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted below. Further, a regulator connectable to the high-pressure tank may refer to a component (e.g., a pressure regulating valve, particularly, a pressure reducing valve) that reduces a high-pressure gas within the high-pressure tank to a predetermined level. Accordingly, a gas pressure at a front end (e.g., an input side) of the regulator may be relatively high, and a gas pressure at a rear end (e.g., an output side) of the regulator may be relatively low.

[0033] The gas flowing through the regulator is decompressed, so that the gas's expansion force toward the outside is relatively reduced, and consequently, the decompressed gas has a reduced likelihood of leakage. Therefore, if a component that can be provided at the rear end of the regulator in a hydrogen supply system of the fuel cell system is manufactured, it can be easily manufactured with a leak-proof design. This means that it is possible to significantly reduce the danger of leakage even if the danger of the high-pressure gas leakage situation at the rear end of the regulator is not separately considered.

[0034] Generally, the fuel cell system may use hydrogen as fuel, and high-pressure hydrogen gas of approximately 700 bar may be stored within the high-pressure vessel as fuel. Since the high-pressure fuel (hydrogen) cannot be directly supplied to the fuel cell stack, the high-pressure fuel may be decompressed by means of the solenoid valve and regulator and then delivered to the fuel cell stack. The high-pressure fuel may typically be primarily decompressed by the regulator to preferably a pressure of 20 bar or less. The decompressed fuel may then be secondarily decompressed using a valve or an injector. When the decompressed fuel is secondarily decompressed, the fuel may preferably be decompressed to a pressure of 4 bar or less.If the valve, not the injector, is used for secondary decompression, then the valve itself must have a fuel tightness for a pressure of approximately 20 bar, and further, there may be a need to precisely control a flow rate of the fuel by means of the valve.

[0035] To achieve this specific goal, the regulator and the solenoid valve may be integrated, and the solenoid valve and the high-pressure tank may also be integrated. Furthermore, the high-pressure tank may be integrated with both the solenoid valve and the regulator. As an exemplary structural embodiment, a regulator-in-tank technique may be used, and as another exemplary structural embodiment, reference may be made to Fig. 1 a regulator-on-tank technique can be used.

[0036] The regulator-in-tank technology can refer in particular to a technology in which in a gas supply line 200 a high-pressure vessel, a regulator is arranged between the high-pressure vessel and a solenoid valve. With reference to Fig. 1, the regulator-on-tank technique can refer to a technique in which the gas supply line 200 a solenoid valve 400 between a high-pressure tank 10 and a regulator 300 Both techniques have in common that a high-pressure condition within the high-pressure vessel 10 is not limited to a supply flow path leading to the outside of the high-pressure vessel 10 exposed, i.e. the outside of the high-pressure vessel 10 can be deployed close to and connected to a stack, and they can therefore have an even better effect than that of the related technique.

[0037] Despite the above techniques, it is not possible to apply the high pressure to the gas filling line 100 between a gas filling station, in particular a connection device (English "receptacle") of a hydrogen filling station (e.g. a filling or refueling connection of the fuel cell system provided in the vehicle for connection to a hydrogen filling nozzle of a hydrogen filling station), and the high-pressure container 10 In particular, gas (hydrogen) in a high-pressure state (or high-pressure state) is stored in the high-pressure vessel 10 of the fuel cell system and the filling is carried out by means of a pressure difference between the filling station and the high-pressure container 10 carried out, so that it is fundamentally not possible to remove the high pressure condition from the gas filling line during filling 10 gain weight.

[0038] The present invention accordingly aims to provide a structure for minimizing an area in which the gas filling line 100 and / or a gas supply line 200 is / are maintained in a high-pressure state immediately after filling and to propose a control method thereof. A structure of a fuel cell system in which a high-pressure line of a hydrogen supply system is eliminated will be described in detail below. In the case of the in-tank regulator 300 must also be used to connect the gas filling line 100 and the gas supply line 200 completely separate, a separate bypass (angled line) and the like may be provided, and consequently, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the high-pressure vessel 10used in the regulator-on-tank technology. The "gas supply line 200" referred to in the present disclosure further means a line between the high-pressure container 10 and the stack and may mean a plurality of tubes forming a flow path (channel) and does not mean merely one element or component. Similarly, the "gas filling line 100" referred to in the present disclosure means a line between the high-pressure container 10 and the gas filling station and may mean a plurality of pipes forming a flow path (channel) and does not mean merely one element or component.

[0039] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of an on-tank regulator 300 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, Fig.3 is a diagram showing a connection relationship between structures of the hydrogen supply system including a gas filling line 100 and a gas supply line 200 of the fuel cell system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Referring to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the present invention can replace the gas filling line 100 and the gas supply line 200 which is connected to the high-pressure tank 10 Preferably, the present invention can have the gas filling line 100 , which comprises a gas filling station, in particular a connection device of a gas filling station, and one side of an inlet of a high-pressure container 10 connects, and the gas supply line 200 which covers one side of the inlet of the high pressure vessel 10and a hydrogen inlet of a stack of a fuel cell. Furthermore, the present invention can be Fig. 2 the regulator 300 at a point (along) the gas supply line 200 The regulator 300 is a structure for decompression (pressure reduction) as described above, and is a structure generally adopted in the hydrogen supply system of the fuel cell system, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted below.

[0041] In the present invention, a solenoid valve 400 in the gas supply line 200 The solenoid valve 400According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a valve which is drivable by means of electromagnetic force is used, and a normally closed (NC) type valve (e.g., a valve which is closed without operation or in a rest state (e.g., a de-energized state)) can be used. An opening degree of the solenoid valve 400 is controlled in proportion to an applied current, so that the solenoid valve 400 can control a flow rate of the hydrogen supplied from the high-pressure container. 10 can be delivered to the stack. As an exemplary embodiment, the solenoid valve 400 in the present invention between the regulator 300 and the high-pressure tank 10 This means that the solenoid valve 400 at a point on the gas supply line 200 between the regulator 300 and the high-pressure tank 10 can be provided.

[0042] Referring to Fig. 3, the present invention may include a bypass line (or bypass line) which connects a point of the gas supply line 200 and a point of the gas filling line 100 In particular, the bypass line may have a point between the solenoid valve 400 and the regulator 300 the gas supply line 200 and a point between the connection device of the filling station and a filling device (which is arranged, for example, on the gas filling line between the high-pressure vessel and the branch point of the bypass line, where the bypass line branches off from the gas filling line). If gas can flow through the bypass line, a pressure of the gas supply line 200 between the solenoid valve 400 and the regulator 300 and a pressure of the gas filling line 100between the connection device of the filling station and a filling device must be / will be the same.

[0043] In the present invention, a check valve 500 be provided at a point of the bypass line. According to an exemplary embodiment, the check valve 500 in the bypass line, which is a point of the gas supply line 200 between the regulator 300 and the solenoid valve 400 and a point of the gas filling line 100 This means that the check valve 500 between the gas supply line 200 and the gas filling line 100 can be provided. The check valve 500In the present invention, a one-way valve is used and may mean a valve by means of which gas is able to flow from one side to the other, but the gas cannot flow back from the other side to the one side, even though the valve is open. Preferably, as in Fig. 3, the check valve 500 of the present invention, a valve which is designed such that gas is able to flow only in one direction from the gas supply line 200 from to the gas filling line 100 to move (to flow). This means that in the present invention, the gas filling line 100 and the gas supply line 200 can be connected in a single direction, ie from the gas supply line 200 from to the gas filling line 100 .

[0044] The present invention can provide a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of a gas (hydrogen) supplied through the gas supply line 200 flows, on the gas supply line 200 between the regulator 300 and the solenoid valve 400 In particular, a high-pressure container 100 existing sensor connection in the gas supply line 200 between the regulator 300 and the solenoid valve 400 Furthermore, the pressure sensor can be positioned at a position that is in line with the sensor connection inside the high-pressure vessel 10 corresponds, outside the high-pressure vessel 10 (e.g. from the outside of the high-pressure tank). The pressure sensor outside the high-pressure tank 10 is attached to the sensor connection inside the high-pressure tank 10 , so that a gap through which the gas supply line 200 between the solenoid valve400 and the regulator 300 may be in contact with the outside / environment. Furthermore, there is a possibility or probability that gas may leak through the gap between the pressure sensor and the sensor connection. Furthermore, if the pressure of the gas in the gas supply line 200 inside the high-pressure vessel 10 where the sensor connection is positioned is high, the possibility or probability of leakage of the gas inside the gas supply line 200 may also be increased.

[0045] Referring to Fig. 3 is / are, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a part of the regulator 300 , of the solenoid valve 400 , the gas filling line 100 and / or the gas supply line 200 inside the high-pressure vessel 10 designed so that the high-pressure vessel 10at an inlet point and an outlet point, which in Fig. 3, must be connected to another element. This means that in order to connect the high-pressure tank 10 and a flow path which connects the gas filling line 100 and / or the gas supply line 200 outside the high-pressure vessel 10 forms, to connect the attachment between the high-pressure vessel 10 and the channel (flow path) at one end of the high-pressure vessel 10 may be necessary.

[0046] The plurality of tubes forming the respective conduits within the fuel cell system, however, must be connected to other elements or components at both ends of each tube. Accordingly, it can be seen that when a high pressure is applied to a tube, two leaks are formed at the attachment points of the two ends. According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of leaks can be formed in the flow path on the gas supply line. 200 between the stack and the regulator 300 and in addition, a (further) plurality of leaks in the flow path on the gas filling line 100 between the gas filling station and the high-pressure vessel 10 Furthermore, if the check valve 500 provided, can also be in the flow path of the gas filling line 100between the gas filling station and the check valve 500 the leak point is created.

[0047] Accordingly, a control method and an operation method of the fuel cell system in which a high-pressure line of the fuel cell system is eliminated according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention for preventing gas from leaking at the leaks that can be caused at the aforementioned points will be described in detail below.

[0048] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between filling or discharging and opening of the solenoid valve 400 in a vehicle to which the fuel cell system can be mounted, according to the related art. Referring to Fig.4, it can be seen in the related art that when the ignition device (e.g. ignition lock device) of the vehicle is in an "on" state, it is detected whether the vehicle is being filled, but the solenoid valve 400 and / or the regulator 300 is / are opened regardless of the completion of filling.

[0049] However, Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the fuel cell system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig.5, in the present invention, it can first be determined in step S100 whether the ignition device of a vehicle to which the fuel cell system can be mounted is in an "on" state. Then, in step S200, it can be determined whether the filling is carried out before the vehicle to which the fuel cell system can be mounted starts (e.g., is started and / or starts moving). In particular, it can be determined whether the high-pressure container 10 the vehicle is filled or refueled with gas (hydrogen) at high pressure from the gas filling station.

[0050] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a high-pressure or low-pressure state of each of the gas supply pipe 200 and / or the gas filling line 100 immediately after the high-pressure filling has been carried out. Furthermore, Fig.6 represents a point at which gas can escape according to high pressure filling. With reference to Fig. 6 it can be seen that, according to the filling with high pressure gas, all the lines of the hydrogen supply system except the rear end of the regulator, ie the one connected to the regulator 300 from gas supply line connected to the stack 200 (e.g. the section of the gas supply line 200 , which is regulated by the regulator 300 connected to the stack) may be exposed to a high-pressure condition. At the time the present invention is carried out, the regulator 300 always in a closed state and only the pressure of the injected high-pressure gas can be greater than an elastic force of a piston (English: "plunger") of the solenoid valve 400. Accordingly, the injected high-pressure gas can push the valve piston into the interior of the valve, and this can be synonymous with the valve being open. Consequently, the high-pressure state can even be maintained in the gas supply line. 200 which is connected to the solenoid valve 400 provided, are formed.

[0051] Then the pressure sensor, which is connected to the gas supply line 200 between the regulator 300 and the solenoid valve 400 is installed to measure the pressure, a pressure of the gas supply line 200 between the regulator 300 and the solenoid valve 400 measure in step S300.

[0052] In this case, if the measured pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure (e.g. opening pressure of the check valve) Po, the check valve 500 , which is connected to the bypass flow path connecting the gas supply line 200 and the gas filling line 100connecting, can be provided, opened. This means that the check valve 500 according to the pressure of the gas supply line 200 (the gas supply line 200 (e.g. gas supply line section) between the regulator 300 and the solenoid valve 400 ) can be opened in step S400. In this case, the predetermined pressure Po may be set based on a minimum usage pressure value of an inlet end of the regulator 300 , i.e. the side of the solenoid valve 400 , under the two ends of the regulator 300 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the predetermined pressure Po may have a value of approximately 2 MPa.

[0053] The check valve 500 is opened so that the pressure of the bypass line can be decompressed or relieved, and furthermore the pressure of the gas supply line 200and / or the gas filling line 100 which are connected to the bypass line are also decompressed (e.g. by pressure equalization between the gas filling line (which is vented and pressure reduced, for example, after filling is complete) and the gas supply line).

[0054] Fig. 7 represents a high pressure or low pressure state of each line after opening the check valve 500 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Similar to Fig. 6, the regulator 300 may be in a closed state. Accordingly, the pressure of the gas supply line 200 which is connected to the rear end of the regulator 300 , ie the stack, under the two ends of the regulator 300 connected, still be maintained in a low-pressure state. In Fig. 7 only the elastic force of the solenoid valve 400be greater than the pressure applied to the inlet of the solenoid valve 400 applied gas pressure. Consequently, a spring of the solenoid valve brings 400 the piston in close contact with a seat (e.g. a plate) of the valve, so that the solenoid valve 400 can also maintain a closed state. Furthermore, the filling device can also prevent gas from escaping from the high-pressure container 10 from the gas flowing backwards. Accordingly, the pressure of the gas supply line 200 between the regulator 300 and the solenoid valve 400 , the bypass line and the gas filling line 100 between the filling device and the gas filling station are decompressed to the low-pressure state. Consequently, all lines of the hydrogen supply system of the fuel cell system, with the exception of the lines between the solenoid valve 400 and the high-pressure tank 100and between the filling device and the high-pressure container 10 , maintain the low-pressure state.

[0055] In the present invention, based on the solenoid valve 400 , a pressure difference between the front end and the rear end increases, so that a leak inside the solenoid valve 400 can be automatically corrected. Three internal leak points can generally be found in the solenoid valve 400 In particular, two leaks may exist in a solenoid actuating part and one leak may exist in a filling part (closing part, e.g. a valve closure part). The leaks within the solenoid valve 400However, they may have a structure in which the leakage point is naturally corrected by a pressure difference between the front end and the rear end of the solenoid valve 400. That is, one structure compresses another structure by means of the pressure difference, so that a gap or misalignment between both structures can be corrected.

[0056] If the check valve 500 is opened, a time may be required to decompress or relieve the pressure of the gas supply line 200 from the high pressure to a low pressure, in particular from about 70 MPa to about 2 MPa, can be measured in step S410. It is possible to measure a time which it takes to decompress the pressure of the gas supply line 200 and / or the gas filling line 100 in which the high pressure is formed, to a low pressure. If the time which the gas supply line200 and / or the gas filling line 100 need to reach the predetermined pressure Po is a predetermined time or longer, it can be determined that gas is present at a point in the gas supply line 200 The reason is that if the gas escapes at any point in the gas supply line 200 or the gas filling line 100 which is separated from the high-pressure vessel 10 from extending, escapes, even though the check valve 500 opened, the decompression is not carried out due to the escape of the high-pressure gas, or the decompression speed is low. The present invention can therefore replace the high-pressure line of the gas supply line 100 and can even determine whether there is a leak within the gas filling line 100 and / or the gas supply line 200 is generated.

[0057] If a predetermined time has elapsed after the check valve 500 was opened, in step S500 the check valve 500 be closed again and the solenoid valve can 400 be opened after the check valve 500 was closed again. In particular, the predetermined time can be defined as a time required to decompress the pressure of the gas supply line 200 from about 70 MPa to about 2 MPa.

[0058] Fig. Figure 8 is a diagram showing the pressure of each structure and each pipe in the state where the check valve 500 opened and then closed again and then the solenoid valve 400 was opened. According to Fig. 8 is the check valve 500closed, so that the bypass line, based on the check valve, can be divided into a high-pressure line (e.g., a high-pressure line section) and a low-pressure line (e.g., a low-pressure line section) 500. In particular, the gas supply line 200 connected line in the bypass line maintains a high pressure state and can control the gas filling line 100 connected line in the bypass line maintains a low-pressure state.

[0059] The solenoid valve 400 is in the open state and the regulator 300 maintains the closed state so that the gas supply line 200 between the solenoid valve 400 and the regulator 300 can maintain a high-pressure state. The gas supply line 200 However, in the high-pressure state, within the high-pressure vessel 10be designed so that a problem regarding the exposure of the high-pressure pipe to the outside / environment cannot be caused. Furthermore, in comparison with Fig. 6, in Fig. 8 the leakage point which is located between the gas filling station (in particular the connection device of the gas filling station) and the check valve 500 and the filling device, thereby reducing the number of leaks of the hydrogen supply system of the fuel cell system.

[0060] Fig. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the number and positions of high-pressure pipes (high-pressure piping parts) and leakage points (high-pressure leakage points) formed in each of the case where the present technology is used in a hydrogen supply system of the fuel cell system, the case where only the on-tank regulator 300used in a hydrogen supply system of the fuel cell system, and the general case in which the on-tank regulator 300 not used in a hydrogen supply system of the fuel cell system. As described above, a pipe (tube) must be fixed at both ends with another member, so that it can be seen that two leaks are formed when a high pressure is applied to a pipe. In any case, leaks may be caused in the connection device arranged at a right upper end of the gas filling pipe 100, two leaks may be caused in a line check valve, and two leaks may be caused at a point where the gas filling pipe 100 with the high-pressure tank 10Furthermore, a leak may also occur at a point where the gas supply line 200 with the high-pressure tank 10 Furthermore, if the regulator 300 provided separately, two leak points can be additionally found in the pipe (line) between the high-pressure tank 10 and the regulator 300 caused.

[0061] The central cylindrical high-pressure vessel 10 and a square end section of the high-pressure vessel 10 can in Fig. 9 may be proposed. Furthermore, the gas filling line 100 on a right side and the gas supply line 200 on a left side. In particular, Fig.9 shows the configuration, which schematically shows the connection device of the gas filling station at the right upper end, the line check valve on the right side and the regulator 300 at a lower left end. Furthermore, a pipe drawn with a thick, solid line may be a pipe in a high-pressure state, and a pipe drawn with a thin, solid line may be a pipe in a low-pressure state. In each case, an area marked with a dot in the drawing is an area where a leak may be formed. The number of leaks that may be generated when a particular system is used and the number of pipes to which high pressure is applied are broken down in the table below. Technology of the hydrogen supply system of the fuel cell system Exemplary embodiment of the present invention The case where only the on-tank regulator is applied The case where the Am-Tank regulator is not applied Number of leaks 1 7 10 Number of pipes on 0 2 3 which high pressure is applied

[0062] In comparison with the related technology and the case where only the Am-Tank regulator 300 is applied, in the present invention, the high-pressure lines are eliminated (in particular, the number of pipes to which high pressure is applied and the number of leak points are reduced), so that the fastening parts to which the high pressure is applied are reduced, thereby significantly reducing the number of leak points at which a leak can be caused and significantly improving the stability / durability of the fuel cell system.

[0063] In summary, the gist of the present invention / disclosure is that the present invention / disclosure includes the bypass line connecting the gas supply line between the solenoid valve and the regulator and a point of the gas filling line, and the check valve adjustable in one direction on the bypass line so that the check valve is opened after filling, thereby eliminating a high-pressure state of the gas supply line between the solenoid valve and the regulator.

[0064] That is, it should be noted that the present invention is characterized in that, after the high-pressure condition is eliminated, the high pressure is applied to the line between the solenoid valve and the high-pressure tank and the line between the filler and the high-pressure tank, so that the high-pressure leaks exposed to the outside are minimized.

[0065] In the above description, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, but those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs can modify and change the present invention by adding, changing and omitting components in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention as described in the claims, and the modification and change also belong to the scope of the present invention.

[0066] In the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of known structures or functions incorporated herein has been omitted when it was determined that such detailed description might obscure the subject matter of the present invention / disclosure. The terms described above are terms defined in consideration of the functions in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and may be changed according to the intentions or practices of users and practitioners. The definitions should therefore be made based on the entire content of the present description.The detailed description of the invention is therefore not intended to limit the present invention to the exemplary embodiments, and it is to be understood that the appended claims also include other exemplary embodiments.

[0067] In the foregoing, the present invention has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiment(s) shown in the drawings, which, however, are illustrative, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications are possible and all or some of the aforementioned exemplary embodiment(s) may be selectively combined and implemented. The true scope of the present invention should therefore be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

[1] A fuel cell system without a high-pressure line of a hydrogen supply system, the fuel cell system comprising a gas filling line (100) formed between a gas filling station and a high-pressure vessel (10) filled with gas by the gas filling station, and a gas supply line (200) formed between the high-pressure vessel (10) and a stack, the fuel cell system comprising: a regulator (300) provided in the gas supply line (200), a solenoid valve (400) provided in the gas supply line (200) between the regulator (300) and the high-pressure vessel (10), and a check valve (500) provided in a bypass line connecting a point of the gas supply line (200) between the regulator (300) and the solenoid valve (400) and a point of the gas filling line (100). [2] Fuel cell system according to claim 1, further comprising: a pressure sensor which is attached to the gas supply line (200) between the regulator (300) and the solenoid valve (400). [3] The fuel cell system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the check valve (500) is a one-way valve. [4] The fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gas flowing through the check valve (500) is movable only in one direction from the gas supply line (200) to the gas filling line (100). [5] The fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the check valve (500) is opened after the high-pressure vessel (10) is filled with gas and is then subsequently closed before the solenoid valve is opened. [6] Fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: a first leak location, wherein a leak is capable of occurring in a flow path of the gas supply line (200) between the stack and the regulator (300). [7] Fuel cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: a second leak point, wherein a leak is capable of occurring in a flow path of the gas filling line (100) between the gas filling station and the check valve (500). [8] A method for controlling a fuel cell system without a high-pressure line of a hydrogen supply system, the fuel cell system comprising a gas filling line (100) formed between a gas filling station and a high-pressure vessel (10) filled with gas by the gas filling station, a gas supply line (200) formed between the high-pressure vessel (10) and a stack, a regulator (300) provided in the gas supply line (200), a solenoid valve (400) provided in the gas supply line (200) between the regulator (300) and the high-pressure vessel (10), and a check valve (500) provided in a bypass line connecting a point of the gas supply line (200) between the regulator (300) and the solenoid valve (400) and a point of the gas filling line (100), the method comprising: a step S100 of determining whether an ignition device of a vehicle to which the fuel cell system is mountable is in an “on” state, a step S200 of determining whether the high-pressure container (10) of the fuel cell system is filled with gas by the gas filling station before the vehicle starts, a step S300 of measuring a pressure of the gas supply line (200) with a pressure sensor which is attached to the gas supply line (200) between the regulator (300) and the solenoid valve (400), a step S400 of determining whether the check valve (500) is opened according to the pressure of the gas supply line (200), and a step S500 of opening the solenoid valve (400) when the check valve (400) was opened in the step S400 and then subsequently closed. [9] The method according to claim 8, wherein, when in step S400 the pressure of the gas supply line is greater than a predetermined pressure, the check valve (500) is opened. [10] The method according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising: a step S410 of measuring a time required for the pressure of the gas supply line (200) to reach a predetermined pressure when the check valve is opened in step S400. [11] The method according to claim 10, wherein it is determined that the gas is escaping from the gas supply line (200) when the time it takes for the pressure of the gas supply line (200) to reach the predetermined pressure is longer than a predetermined time in step S410.

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