Gas supply system and control procedures for a gas supply system

Abstract

A gas supply system (100) comprises: high-pressure tanks (50L, 50S) having at least different longitudinal lengths; supply lines (30L, 30S) each connected to a corresponding high-pressure tank (50S, 50L); a supply-side manifold (32) to which the supply lines (30L, 30S) are connected; solenoid valves (64L, 64S) arranged in the respective supply lines (30L, 30S); a first pressure sensor (28) configured to detect a pressure related to an internal pressure of the high-pressure tanks (50L, 50S); a second pressure sensor (38) configured to detect a pressure at the supply-side manifold (32);and a control device (80) that controls the solenoid valve (64L) corresponding to the high-pressure tank (50L) which, of the high-pressure tanks (50L, 50S), has the largest ratio of its longitudinal length to its short-side width, such that it opens first when a value obtained by subtracting the pressure detected by the second pressure sensor (38) from the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor (28) is greater than a threshold value at the time of activation of the gas supply system (100).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a gas supply system and a control method for a gas supply system. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0002] A gas supply system is known that supplies a fuel gas stored in a plurality of high-pressure tanks to a gas supply destination via a supply flow path that is branched and connected to each high-pressure tank (see, for example, Japanese patent application JP 2013 - 228 059 A). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] When starting the gas supply from the high-pressure tank, a disadvantage may occur in which vibrations and noises occur and are transmitted to the outside.

[0004] The present invention can be realized in the following aspects. (1) A first aspect of the present invention relates to a gas supply system comprising: a plurality of high-pressure tanks filled with a high-pressure gas, the high-pressure tanks having at least different lengths in the longitudinal direction; a plurality of supply lines each having a first end connected to a corresponding one of the high-pressure tanks and a second end; a supply-side manifold to which the second end of each of the supply lines is connected; a plurality of magnets orSolenoid valves arranged in the respective supply lines; a first pressure sensor configured to detect a first pressure related to an internal pressure of the high-pressure tanks; a second pressure sensor configured to detect a second pressure at the supply-side manifold; and a control device configured to control the solenoid valve corresponding to the high-pressure tank having a largest ratio of a longitudinal length to a short-side width among the plurality of high-pressure tanks to open first, and then control the solenoid valve corresponding to the remaining high-pressure tank to open when a value obtained by subtracting the pressure detected by the second pressure sensor from the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor is greater than a predetermined threshold at the time of activation of the gas supply system.According to the gas supply system of the first aspect, in a state where the internal pressure of the high-pressure tanks is greater than the pressure of the supply lines, and therefore vibration and noise are more likely to be generated from the solenoid valves, the solenoid valve corresponding to the high-pressure tank, which has a large ratio of the longitudinal length to the short-side width and is therefore unlikely to amplify vibration and noise, is controlled to open first. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress a disadvantage in which the vibration and noise generated by the solenoid valves during gas supply are transmitted from the high-pressure tanks to the outside. (2) The control device may be configured to control the solenoid valves to open simultaneously when the value obtained by subtracting the second pressure detected by the second pressure sensor from the first pressure sensor is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold. According to the gas supply system of this aspect, the control device can determine the state where there is no effect on the generation of vibration and noise based on the detection results of the first and second pressure sensors, and can control the solenoid valves corresponding to the high-pressure tanks to open within a short period of time. (3) The gas supply system of this aspect may further include: a plurality of filling pipes, each having a first end connected to one of the corresponding high-pressure tanks and a second end; and a filling-side manifold to which the second end of each of the filling pipes is connected. The first pressure sensor may be disposed in the filling-side manifold. According to the gas supply system of this aspect, the internal pressure of the high-pressure tanks can be detected with a simple configuration using a single pressure sensor disposed in the filling-side manifold to which the supply lines are connected. (4) According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a control method for a gas supply system.The control method includes: when a value obtained by subtracting a second pressure in a supply-side manifold to which second ends of a plurality of supply lines are connected from a first pressure of a plurality of high-pressure tanks having at least different longitudinal lengths and to which first ends of the plurality of supply lines are connected, at the time of activation of the gas supply system is greater than a predetermined threshold, controlling a solenoid valve corresponding to the high-pressure tank having a largest ratio of a longitudinal length to a short-side width among the plurality of high-pressure tanks to open first, and then controlling a solenoid valve corresponding to the remaining high-pressure tank to open.The present invention can be implemented in various ways other than the gas supply system and the control method for a gas supply system. For example, the present invention can be implemented in the form of a fuel cell system equipped with the gas supply system, a vehicle equipped with the gas supply system, control methods for the fuel cell system and the vehicle, a computer program that implements the control methods, and a non-volatile storage medium that stores the computer program. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The features and advantages as well as technical and economic significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like elements, in which: Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a fuel cell system; Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a solenoid valve in an open state; Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of a first high-pressure tank; Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of a second high-pressure tank; and Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing a control of the gas supply or gas supply control by a control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS A. First Embodiment

[0006] Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a fuel cell system 10 with a gas supply system 100 according to a first embodiment. The fuel cell system 10 is mounted, for example, on a fuel cell vehicle that uses the fuel cell as a power source. The fuel cell system 10 includes a gas supply system 100, a fuel cell 90, and an air supply system 200.

[0007] The air supply system 200 includes a compressor 70, an air supply line 71, an air outlet line 74, and an outlet flow rate adjustment valve 73. The air supply line 71 is connected to a cathode supply port of the fuel cell 90. The air outlet line 74 connects a cathode outlet port to the atmosphere. The motor-driven compressor 70 is provided on the air supply line 71, and the outlet flow rate adjustment valve 73 is located in the air outlet line 74. In the air supply system 200, the flow rate of air supplied to a cathode of the fuel cell 90 is controlled by the compressor 70 and the outlet flow rate adjustment valve 73. Unused air (also called cathode exhaust) discharged from the cathode outlet port is discharged to the atmosphere from the air outlet line 74.

[0008] The gas supply system 100 supplies the fuel cell 90 with a fuel gas (e.g., hydrogen gas) stored under high pressure in a plurality of high-pressure tanks. The gas supply system 100 includes a plurality of high-pressure tanks, a control device 80, a hydrogen filling system HF, and a hydrogen supply system HS. The hydrogen filling system HF fills with hydrogen gas from a hydrogen supply source, such as a hydrogen station. The hydrogen supply system HS supplies hydrogen gas from the high-pressure tanks to the fuel cell 90, which is a gas supply destination.

[0009] The fuel cell 90 consists of a plurality of stacked fuel cells. Each fuel cell contains a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) in which an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are bonded to respective sides of an electrolyte membrane. The fuel cell 90 generates electrical power through an electrochemical reaction between a hydrogen gas as the fuel gas and oxygen gas as the oxidizing gas, and uses the generated electrical power to drive loads such as a traction motor.

[0010] In the first embodiment, the gas supply system 100 includes two high-pressure tanks, ie, a first high-pressure tank 50L and a second high-pressure tank 50S.

[0011] In the gas supply system 100, the number of high-pressure tanks is not limited to two. The gas supply system 100 may include three or more high-pressure tanks.

[0012] The high-pressure tanks 50L and 50S are connected to the hydrogen filling system HF and the hydrogen supply system HS via valve units 60L and 60S. The valve unit 60L is connected to the first high-pressure tank 50L, and the valve unit 60S is connected to the second high-pressure tank 50S. The valve units 60L and 60S are each a structural body with multiple flow paths and multiple valves within them. The valve units 60L and 60S switch between opening and closing the valves to switch between filling the high-pressure tanks 50L and 50S with hydrogen gas from the hydrogen filling system HF and supplying the hydrogen gas from each of the high-pressure tanks 50L and 50S to the hydrogen supply system HS.

[0013] The hydrogen filling system HF comprises a receptacle 20, a first filling pipe 21, a filling-side manifold 22, and second filling pipes 24L, 24S. One end of the first filling pipe 21 is connected to the receptacle 20. One end of the second filling pipe 24L is connected to a filling-side port PF1 of the valve unit 60L. One end of the second filling pipe 24S is connected to a filling-side port PF2 of the valve unit 60S.

[0014] The filling-side manifold 22 is a conduit for branching one flow path into a plurality of flow paths. The other end of the first filling pipe 21 and the other ends of the second filling pipes 24L, 24S are connected to the filling-side manifold 22 to supply the hydrogen gas supplied from the first filling pipe 21 to each of the second filling pipes 24L, 24S. The filling-side manifold 22 is provided with a first pressure sensor 28. The first pressure sensor 28 detects a first pressure related to an internal pressure of the high-pressure tanks 50L, 50S. The term "first pressure related to an internal pressure of the high-pressure tanks" refers to a pressure for directly or indirectly detecting the internal pressure of the high-pressure tanks 50L, 50S.In the first embodiment, the pressure in the filling-side manifold 22 connected to the high-pressure tanks 50L, 50S, the pressure in the second filling pipes 24L, 24S, and the internal pressure in the high-pressure tanks 50L, 50S are equal. Therefore, the first pressure sensor 28 indirectly detects the internal pressure in the high-pressure containers 50L, 50S by detecting the pressure in the filling-side manifold 22. The receptacle 20 is connected to a gas supply source such as a hydrogen station (not shown). The hydrogen gas supplied via the receptacle 20 flows through the first filling pipe 21 into the filling-side manifold 22 and is supplied to the high-pressure tanks 50L, 50S via the second filling pipes 24L, 24S.

[0015] The hydrogen supply system HS includes a supply-side manifold 32, a first supply line 34, second supply lines 30L, 30S, a circulation line 42, and an outlet line 44. One end of the first supply line 34 is connected to a hydrogen supply port of the fuel cell 90. One end of the second supply line 30L is connected to a supply-side port PS1 of the valve unit 60L. One end of the second supply line 30S is connected to a supply-side port PS2 of the valve unit 60S.

[0016] The supply-side manifold 32 is a conduit for merging the multiple flow paths into a single flow path. The other end of the first supply line 34 and the other ends of the second supply lines 30L, 30S are connected to the supply-side manifold 32 to supply the hydrogen gas supplied from each of the second supply lines 30L, 30S to the first supply line 34. The supply-side manifold 32 is provided with a second pressure sensor 38. The second pressure sensor 38 detects the pressure of the hydrogen supply system HS. More specifically, the second pressure sensor 38 detects the internal pressure of the second supply lines 30L, 30S and the internal pressure of the first supply line 34, which are in balance with each other.

[0017] The first supply line 34 includes a pressure reducing valve 36 and an injector 40 in this order from the side of the supply-side manifold 32.

[0018] The pressure reducing valve 36 is controlled by the control device 80, releases the hydrogen gas, and supplies the depressurized hydrogen gas to the injector 40. The injector 40 is driven by the control device 80 and injects the hydrogen gas into the fuel cell 90 to supply the hydrogen gas to the fuel cell 90.

[0019] One end of the circulation line 42 is connected to an outlet port of the fuel cell 90. The other end of the circulation line 42 is connected to the first supply line 34 at a location of the injector 40 on the fuel cell 90 side. The circulation line 42 is provided with a circulation pump 48. The circulation pump 48 is driven under the control of the control device 80 and circulates unused hydrogen gas contained in the exhaust gas discharged from the fuel cell 90 to the fuel cell 90.

[0020] The outlet line 44 is connected to the circulation line 42 at a location closer to the outlet port of the fuel cell 90 than the position of the circulation pump 48. One end of the outlet line 44 is connected to the air outlet line 74 of the air supply system 200. The other end of the outlet line 44 is connected to the circulation line 42. The outlet line 44 includes an outlet valve 43. The outlet valve 43 is controlled by the control device 80 and discharges the exhaust gas exiting the fuel cell 90 into the atmosphere via the outlet line 44 and the air outlet line 74.

[0021] Next, the valve units 60L, 60S connected to the high-pressure tanks 50L, 50S are described. The valve unit 60L of the first high-pressure tank 50L includes a filling-side check valve 61L, a main shut-off valve 62L, a solenoid valve 64L, and a supply-side check valve 65L. The valve unit 60S of the second high-pressure tank 50S includes a filling-side check valve 61S, a main shut-off valve 62S, a solenoid valve 64S, and a supply-side check valve 65S.

[0022] The main shutoff valve 62L is a manual valve that switches between opening and closing the connection between the first high-pressure tank 50L and the second filling pipe 24L and the second supply line 30L. The main shutoff valve 62S is a manual valve that switches between opening and closing the connection between the second high-pressure tank 50S and the second filling pipe 24S and the second supply line 30S. Each of the main shutoff valves 62L, 62S is opened by manual operation before the gas supply system 100 is mounted on a vehicle. The filling-side check valves 61L, 61S regulate the flow of hydrogen gas in the second filling pipes 24L, 24S only in one direction, from the filling-side manifold 22 side to the high-pressure tanks 50L, 50S. The solenoid valves 64L, 64S are controlled by the control device 80 so that the solenoid valves 64L, 64S are driven to open and close.The solenoid valve 64L is a solenoid valve corresponding to the first high-pressure tank 50L. "Solenoid valve 64L is a solenoid valve corresponding to the first high-pressure tank 50L" refers to a solenoid valve that switches between opening and closing the connection between the first high-pressure tank 50L and the second supply line 30L connected to the first high-pressure tank 50L. The solenoid valve 64S is a solenoid valve corresponding to the second high-pressure tank 50S and switches between opening and closing the connection between the second high-pressure tank 50S and the second supply line 30S. The supply-side check valves 65L, 65S regulate the flow of hydrogen gas in the second supply lines 30L, 30S in only one direction from each of the high-pressure tanks 50L, 50S to the supply-side manifold 32.

[0023] The control device 80 is composed of a microcomputer including a microprocessor that performs a logical operation and a memory such as a read-only memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RAM). The microprocessor executes a program stored in the memory, so that the control device 80 performs various controls for the fuel cell 90, including the control of opening and closing valves such as the injector 40, the pressure reducing valve 36, and the solenoid valves 64L, 64S. In the gas supply system 100 of the first embodiment, the control device 80, as described later, performs gas supply control using the detection results of the first pressure sensor 28 and the second pressure sensor 38.

[0024] With reference to Fig. 2 describes details of the solenoid valve 64L. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the solenoid valve 64L in the open state. The solenoid valve 64L includes a valve body 641, a valve seat 642, a coil 643, a stopper 644, and a communication space 645 in which the valve body 641 is housed. Note that the configuration of the solenoid valve 64S is the same as that of the solenoid valve 64L, and a description thereof will be omitted.

[0025] Flow paths 66L to 68L are formed in the solenoid valve 64L. The flow path 66L functions as part of the second supply line 30L and is a flow path for connecting the first high-pressure tank 50L to the communication space 645. The flow path 67L functions as part of the second supply line 30L and is connected to the communication space 645. The flow path 68L is a flow path for connecting the communication space 645 to the outside of the solenoid valve 64L. The flow path 68L is closed by a pressure adjustment valve (not shown).

[0026] The valve body 641, formed of a magnetic body, slides within the communication space 645 according to the energization and demagnetization of the coil 643, so that the solenoid valve 64L can be switched between an open and a closed valve state. The solenoid valve 64L is closed when a front or distal end of the valve body 641 is seated on the valve seat 642, and is open when the distal end of the valve body 641 is separated from the valve seat 642. In this configuration, a flow path connecting the flow path 66L and the flow path 67L is opened and closed.

[0027] A stopper 644 functions as part of a wall surface of the communication space 645. A sliding range of the valve body 641 is restricted so that a wall surface 644W of the stopper 644 comes into contact with an open end surface 641W of the valve body 641. When the solenoid valve 64L is opened in a state where the internal pressure of the first high-pressure tank 50L is greater than the pressure of the second supply line 30L, an end surface 641W of the valve body 641 collides with the wall surface 644W of the stopper 644, which may result in the generation of vibration and noise.

[0028] With reference to the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 describes details of the first high-pressure tank 50L and the second high-pressure tank 50S. Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the first high-pressure tank 50L. In Fig. 3, a central axis AX1 of the first high-pressure tank 50L is shown by a dashed line.

[0029] The first high-pressure tank 50L has an elongated shape along the central axis AX1. Fig. 3 schematically shows a longitudinal length TL1 of the first high-pressure tank 50L along the central axis AX1 and a short-side width TW1 of the first high-pressure tank 50L. The short-side width of the high-pressure tank denotes a diameter when a cross-sectional shape of the high-pressure tank in the short-side direction is circular, and denotes the maximum width of the cross-sectional shape when the cross-sectional shape has a shape other than a circle. In the first embodiment, the short-side width TW1 of the first high-pressure tank 50L is equal to a diameter of the cross-sectional shape of the first high-pressure tank 50L, which is circular, that is, a tank diameter.

[0030] Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the second high-pressure tank 50S. The second high-pressure tank 50S has a different shape than the first high-pressure tank 50L. The other configurations of the second high-pressure tank 50S are the same as those of the first high-pressure tank 50L.

[0031] Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal length TL2 along a central axis AX2 of the second high-pressure tank 50S and a short-side width TW2 of the second high-pressure tank 50S. The longitudinal length TL2 is smaller than the longitudinal length TL1 of the first high-pressure tank 50L. The short-side width TW2 is a tank diameter of the second high-pressure tank 50S and larger than the short-side width TW1 of the first high-pressure tank 50L.

[0032] Vibrations and noise transmitted to the high-pressure tank are more likely to be amplified when the ratio of the longitudinal length of the high-pressure tank to the short-side width is close to 1 and the shape of the high-pressure tank approaches a sphere. In this case, the high-pressure tank is more likely to transmit vibrations and noise to the outside. When the ratio of the longitudinal length to the short-side width is constant, vibrations and noise are more likely to be amplified as the longitudinal length of the high-pressure tank becomes smaller. In the first high-pressure tank 50L, a ratio K1 is a ratio of the longitudinal length TL1 to the short-side width TW1. In the second high-pressure tank 50S, a ratio K2 is a ratio of the longitudinal length TL2 to the short-side width TW2.In the gas supply system 100 of the first embodiment, both the ratio K1 and the ratio K2 are greater than 1, and the ratio K1 is greater than the ratio K2. That is, in the first embodiment, the second high-pressure tank 50S is more likely to transmit vibration and noise to the outside than the first high-pressure tank 50L.

[0033] With reference to Fig. 5, the control of the gas supply or gas supply control by the control device 80 of the gas supply system 100 in the first embodiment is described. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the gas supply control performed by the control device 80. The Fig.The gas supply control shown in Figure 5 is started, for example, when the gas supply system 100 is activated by turning on a start switch in a vehicle equipped with the gas supply system 100. At the time of activation of the gas supply system 100, the pressure reducing valve 36 and the solenoid valves 64L, 64S are closed, and the main shut-off valves 62L, 62S are open.

[0034] When the gas supply system 100 is activated, the control device 80 detects the detection results of the first pressure sensor 28 and the second pressure sensor 38 (step S10). A pressure P1 detected by the first pressure sensor 28 indicates the internal pressure of the high-pressure tanks 50L, 50S as described above. A pressure P2 detected by the second pressure sensor 38 indicates the internal pressure of the second supply lines 30L, 30S and the first supply line 34 from the solenoid valves 64L, 64S to the pressure reducing valve 36.

[0035] When the control device 80 detects the pressure P1 and the pressure P2, the control device 80 performs a calculation by subtracting the pressure P2 from the pressure P1, compares the calculation result with a predetermined threshold value TS, and determines whether the calculation result is greater than the threshold value TS (step S20). The threshold value TS is preferably, for example, 5 MPa or more. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce an effect by an error caused by a detection accuracy of the first and second pressure sensors 28, 38. The threshold value TS is preferably 10 MPa or more. Accordingly, it is possible to exclude a range in which the vibration and noise generated by the solenoid valves 64L, 64S are small, and thus avoid unnecessary restriction of the opening order of the solenoid valves 64L, 64S.

[0036] If the control device 80 determines that the calculation result is equal to or less than the threshold value TS (S20: NO), the control device 80 controls the solenoid valves 64L, 64S corresponding to the high-pressure tanks 50L, 50S to open simultaneously (step S50). "Controlling the solenoid valves to open simultaneously" means that the solenoid valves are controlled to open within 0.1 seconds. The timing for controlling the solenoid valves 64L, 64S to open simultaneously is not limited to simultaneous timing. The solenoid valves 64L, 64S can be opened in any suitable order. The control device 80 ends the routine when the solenoid valves 64L, 64S are open.

[0037] If the control device 80 determines that the calculation result is greater than the threshold value TS (S20: YES), the solenoid valve corresponding to the high-pressure tank with the largest ratio of the longitudinal length to the short-side width among the plurality of high-pressure tanks is opened first (step S30). In the gas supply system 100 of the first embodiment, the ratio K1 of the first high-pressure tank 50L is greater than the ratio K2 of the second high-pressure tank 50S. Therefore, the control device 80 controls the solenoid valve 64L corresponding to the first high-pressure tank 50L to open first. For example, ifIf the short-side widths of the high-pressure tanks are the same, for example, if the tank diameters of the high-pressure tanks are substantially the same, the controller 80 may, in step S30, determine the order of opening the solenoid valves based on the longitudinal length of each high-pressure tank and control the solenoid valve corresponding to a high-pressure tank with the longest longitudinal length among the high-pressure tanks to open first. If the ratio between the longitudinal length and the short-side width is the same, but the longitudinal length is different between the high-pressure tanks, the controller 80 may control the solenoid valve corresponding to the high-pressure tank with the longest longitudinal length to open first.

[0038] After the solenoid valve 64 corresponding to the first high-pressure tank 50L is opened, the controller 80 controls the solenoid valve 64S corresponding to the second high-pressure tank 50S to open (step S40). That is, the solenoid valve 64S is opened after the gas is supplied from the first high-pressure tank 50L and a pressure difference between the high-pressure tanks 50L, 50S and the second supply lines 30L, 30S is reduced. When the gas supply system 100 includes three or more high-pressure tanks, the controller 80 may control the solenoid valve corresponding to a high-pressure tank with the largest ratio between the longitudinal length and the short-side width to open first, and then control all the solenoid valves corresponding to the remaining high-pressure tanks to open simultaneously or in an appropriate order.The "remaining high-pressure tanks" refer to the high-pressure tanks that have the corresponding solenoid valves to be opened other than the high-pressure tank for which the corresponding solenoid valve is first opened in step S30. In a form in which the gas supply system 100 is configured to gradually switch to another high-pressure tank with a solenoid valve to be opened in step S40 each time the gas in a high-pressure tank is completely consumed, the high-pressure tank for which the corresponding solenoid valve is not to be opened is not counted among the "remaining high-pressure tanks." The controller 80 ends the routine after the solenoid valves 64L, 64S are opened.

[0039] As described above, according to the gas supply system 100 of the first embodiment, the control device 80 controls the solenoid valve 64L corresponding to the first high-pressure tank 50L having the largest longitudinal length to short-side width ratio to open first, and then controls the solenoid valve 64S corresponding to the second high-pressure tank 50S to open when a value obtained by subtracting the pressure P2 detected by the second pressure sensor 38 from the pressure P1 detected by the first pressure sensor 28 is greater than the predetermined threshold value TS at the time of activation of the gas supply system 100. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress a disadvantage in gas supply in which vibrations and noises that may be generated by the solenoid valves 64L, 64S are amplified by the high-pressure tanks 50L, 50S and then transmitted to the outside.

[0040] According to the gas supply system 100 of the first embodiment, the control device 80 controls the solenoid valves 64L, 64S to open simultaneously when the value obtained by subtracting the pressure P2 detected by the second pressure sensor 38 from the pressure P1 detected by the first pressure sensor 28 is equal to or less than the threshold value TS. With this configuration, the control device 80 can control the solenoid valves 64L, 64S corresponding to the high-pressure tanks 50L and 50S, respectively, to open within a short period of time by determining the state where there is no effect on the generation of vibration and noise based on the detection results of the first and second pressure sensors 28, 38.

[0041] According to the gas supply system 100 of the first embodiment, the first pressure sensor 28 is arranged in the filling-side manifold 22 to which the plurality of second filling pipes 24L, 24S are connected. Thus, the internal pressure of each of the high-pressure tanks 50L, 50S can be detected with a single pressure sensor in a simple configuration. B. Other embodiments

[0042] (B1) In the first embodiment, an example will be described in which the longitudinal length differs between the first high-pressure tank 50L and the second high-pressure tank 50S. When the gas supply system 100 includes three or more high-pressure tanks, all of the high-pressure tanks need not have different longitudinal lengths from each other. For example, one of the high-pressure tanks may have the longest longitudinal length, and the remaining high-pressure tanks may have the same longitudinal lengths. In this case, the control device 80 may execute the gas supply control such that the solenoid valve corresponding to the high-pressure tank with the largest ratio of the longitudinal length to the short-side width opens first when the pressure P1 detected by the first pressure sensor 28 is greater than the pressure P2 detected by the second pressure sensor 38.

[0043] (B2) In the first embodiment, after the control device 80 detects the pressure P1 and the pressure P2, the control device 80 performs a calculation by subtracting the pressure P2 from the pressure P1, compares the calculation result with the predetermined threshold value TS, and determines whether the calculation result is greater than the threshold value TS in step S20. In contrast, the control device 80 may determine whether the pressure P1 is greater than the pressure P2 by comparing the pressure P1 and the pressure P2 without specifying the threshold value TS. The determination of whether the pressure P1 is greater than the pressure P2 may be made by setting the threshold value TS close to zero.

[0044] (B3) In the first embodiment, the first pressure sensor 28 is arranged in the filling-side manifold 22. However, the internal pressure of the high-pressure tanks can be detected indirectly by disposing the first pressure sensor 28 in any conduit path of the hydrogen filling system HF, such as the second filling pipes 24L, 24S, and detecting a first pressure value related to the internal pressure of the high-pressure tanks in the gas supply system 100.

[0045] (B4) In the first embodiment, the solenoid valves 64L, 64S are controlled to open simultaneously when the value obtained by subtracting the pressure P2 detected by the second pressure sensor 38 from the pressure P1 detected by the first pressure sensor 28 is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value TS. However, the solenoid valves 64L, 64S may be opened in any suitable order. If the gas supply system includes three or more high-pressure tanks, the solenoid valves corresponding to the respective high-pressure tanks may be controlled to open in an appropriate order.

[0046] (B5) In the first embodiment, the solenoid valves 64L, 64S are arranged in the corresponding valve units 60L, 60S. However, the solenoid valves 64L, 64S may be provided for the second supply lines 30L, 30S instead of in the valve units 60L, 60S.

[0047] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be implemented with various configurations without departing from the scope thereof. For example, the embodiments corresponding to technical features in the aspect described in the summary of the invention and technical features in other embodiments can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve some or all of the problems described above or to achieve some or all of the effects described above. Furthermore, the technical features may be omitted as appropriate unless they are described as essential in the present specification.

Claims

[1] Gas supply system (100), comprising: a plurality of high-pressure tanks (50L, 50S) filled with a high-pressure gas, the high-pressure tanks (50L, 50S) having at least different lengths in the longitudinal direction; a plurality of supply lines (30L, 30S), each having a first end connected to a corresponding one of the high-pressure tanks (50L, 50S) and a second end; a supply-side manifold (32) to which the second end of each of the supply lines (30L, 30S) is connected; a plurality of solenoid valves (64L, 64S) arranged in the respective supply lines (30L, 30S); a first pressure sensor (28) configured to detect a first pressure related to an internal pressure of the high-pressure tanks (50L, 50S); a second pressure sensor (38) configured to detect a second pressure at the supply-side manifold (32); and a control device (80) configured to control the solenoid valve (64L) corresponding to the high-pressure tank (50L) having a largest ratio of a longitudinal length to a short-side width among the plurality of high-pressure tanks (50L, 50S) to open first, and then to control the solenoid valve (64S) corresponding to the remaining high-pressure tank (50S) to open when a value obtained by subtracting the pressure detected by the second pressure sensor (38) from the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor (28) is greater than a predetermined threshold at the time of activation of the gas supply system (100). [2] The gas supply system according to claim 1, wherein the control device (80) is configured to control the solenoid valves (64L, 64S) to open simultaneously when the value obtained by subtracting the second pressure detected by the second pressure sensor from the first pressure detected by the first pressure sensor is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value. [3] Gas supply system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a plurality of filling pipes (24L, 24S), each having a first end connected to a corresponding one of the high-pressure tanks (50L, 50S) and a second end; and a filling-side collecting pipe (22) to which the second end of each of the filling pipes (24L, 24S) is connected, wherein the first pressure sensor (28) is arranged in the filling-side collecting pipe (22). [4] A control method for a gas supply system, comprising: Controlling, when a value obtained by subtracting a second pressure in a supply-side manifold (32) to which second ends of a plurality of supply lines (30L, 30S) are connected from a first pressure of a plurality of high-pressure tanks (50L, 50S) having at least different longitudinal lengths and to which first ends of the plurality of supply lines (30L, 30S) are connected, at the time of activation of the gas supply system (100) is greater than a predetermined threshold value, a solenoid valve (64L) corresponding to the high-pressure tank (50L) having a largest ratio of the longitudinal length to a short-side width among the plurality of high-pressure tanks (50L, 50S) to open first, and then controlling a solenoid valve (64S) corresponding to the remaining high-pressure tank (50S) to open.

Images