High pressure gas storage device

Abstract

To prevent corrosion of a core wire caused by contact with ammonia.SOLUTION: A high pressure gas storage device A includes a tank 10 for storing ammonia gas, an outer shell body 15 surrounding a tank 10 while leaving an airtight space 29 therebetween, a plurality of electrical apparatuses 22-28 provided in the tank 10 or the outer shell body 15, an electric wire 41 formed by surrounding a copper-made core wire 42 with a resin-made insulation coating 44 and connected to the electric apparatuses 22-28 and arranged in the airtight space 29, and a protective member 45 impermeable to the ammonia gas and airtightly surrounding the core wire 42.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a high-pressure gas storage device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a double-shell tank in which an inner tank for storing liquefied gas is surrounded by an outer tank. The space between the inner tank and the outer tank is a vacuum space. In this type of device, a sensor for electrically detecting the liquid level, temperature, pressure, etc. of the liquefied gas is provided in the inner tank. In addition, a sensor for electrically detecting the temperature, pressure, etc. in the vacuum space is provided in the outer tank. A harness connected to these electrical devices is routed in the space between the inner tank and the outer tank, and is led out of the outer tank through the outer tank. In general, a harness is formed by bundling coated electric wires in which a copper core wire is surrounded by an insulating coating. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-152260 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Ammonia is an example of a liquefied gas stored in the double-shell tank. When the ammonia stored in the inner tank leaks as a vaporized gas, the leaked ammonia gas is retained in the space between the inner tank and the outer tank. In the space between the inner tank and the outer tank, the ammonia gas penetrates the resin that is the material of the insulating coating of the insulated electric wire and comes into contact with the core wire. Copper, which is the material of the core wire, may corrode when it comes into contact with ammonia, so measures are necessary.

[0005] The present invention was developed in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent corrosion of a core wire caused by contact with ammonia. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure relates to A tank for storing ammonia; an outer shell surrounding the tank with an airtight space; A plurality of electrical devices provided in the tank or the outer shell; An electric wire having a copper core surrounded by a resin insulating coating, connected to the electric device and arranged in the airtight space; and a protective member that is impermeable to ammonia and that airtightly surrounds the core wire. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, corrosion of the core wire caused by contact with ammonia can be prevented. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] Cross-sectional view of the high-pressure gas storage device of the first embodiment [Diagram 2] Cross-sectional view of the conductive path of Example 1 [Diagram 3] Cross-sectional view of the second embodiment [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view of the third embodiment DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. Any combination of the following embodiments without causing any contradiction is also included in the embodiment for carrying out the present invention. The high pressure gas storage device of the present disclosure is (1) A tank for storing ammonia gas, a shell surrounding the tank with an airtight space, a plurality of electrical devices provided on the tank or the shell, an electric wire having a copper core surrounded by a resin insulating coating and connected to the electrical device and routed in the airtight space, and a protective member that is impermeable to ammonia gas and airtightly surrounds the core. According to this configuration, by airtightly surrounding the copper core with the protective member, corrosion of the core due to contact with ammonia gas can be prevented.

[0010] (2) In (1), it is preferable that the protective member includes an aluminum pipe and an anodized aluminum layer formed on the surface of the pipe. With this configuration, the shape of the protective member can be freely changed according to the wiring path of the electric wire.

[0011] (3) In (1), it is preferable that the protective member includes a pipe and a coating formed on the surface of the pipe.

[0012] (4) In (1), it is preferable that the protective member is formed of a coating directly on the outer circumferential surface of the core wire. With this configuration, there is no need to insert the electric wire into a separate protective member.

[0013] (5) In the above (3) or (4), it is preferable that the coating is formed of an electroless nickel plating layer. With this configuration, a coating having high heat resistance and a uniform thickness can be formed.

[0014] <Example 1> A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. In the following description, the F direction in Fig. 1 is defined as the front with respect to the front-rear direction, and the H direction in Fig. 1 is defined as the top with respect to the up-down direction.

[0015] The high-pressure gas storage device A of the present embodiment 1 is mounted on a vehicle (not shown) for use. Specifically, the high-pressure gas storage device A is disposed inside the vehicle (for example, in the luggage compartment) or outside the vehicle (under the floor of the body). The high-pressure gas storage device A is configured to include a tank 10 and an outer shell 15 surrounding the tank 10. The tank 10 is an airtight storage tank for storing ammonia in a high-pressure liquefied gas state or a high-pressure vaporized gas state. The liquefied gas is ammonia that is in a gas phase at room temperature and atmospheric pressure and is phase-transitioned to a liquid phase by pressurization and cooling. The vaporized gas is a gas generated by evaporation of the liquefied gas.

[0016] The ammonia (liquefied gas and vaporized gas) stored in the high-pressure gas storage device A is used as gas fuel to be supplied to a vehicle engine (not shown). Since ammonia is a harmful substance, in this embodiment 1, an outer shell body 15 is provided as a measure in case the ammonia gas in the tank 10 leaks out of the tank 10. The outer shell body 15 is arranged to surround the entire tank 10 with a gap therebetween. The space between the outer surface of the tank 10 and the inner surface of the outer shell body 15 functions as an airtight space 29 for temporarily storing high-pressure gas that leaks from the tank 10. The entire area of ​​the outer surface of the tank 10 and the entire area of ​​the inner surface of the outer shell body 15 face the airtight space 29.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the tank 10 has one tube portion 11 and a pair of dome portions 12, and is capsule-shaped as a whole. The tube portion 11 is a cylindrical portion with its axis oriented horizontally (front-rear direction). The pair of dome portions 12 are approximately hemispherical portions and are arranged to close the openings at both ends of the tube portion 11. The tube portion 11 and the pair of dome portions 12 are made of metal members manufactured as separate parts, and are integrated by being gas-tightly joined by welding. A cylindrical fixing member 14 is gas-tightly fixed to the opening edge of a first mounting hole 13 at the lower end of the tube portion 11 by welding.

[0018] The outer shell 15 is formed by combining a metallic lower case 16 and a metallic upper case 17 in an airtight manner. The lower case 16 and the upper case 17 are held in a combined state by bolts 18 and nuts 19. The outer shell 15 in the combined state of the lower case 16 and the upper case 17 is capsule-shaped. A second mounting hole 20 is formed in the lower end of the lower case 16, which is concentric with the first mounting hole 13. A blocking member 21 is attached to the second mounting hole 20.

[0019] A fuel pump 22 is attached to the outer shell 15. The fuel pump 22 is a device for supplying ammonia in the tank 10 to an engine (not shown). The fuel pump 22 is generally cylindrical with its axis facing up and down. The fuel pump 22 is disposed so as to pass through the cylindrical fixing member 14, and is fixed to the tank 10 by bolting to the cylindrical fixing member 14.

[0020] The high-pressure gas storage device A includes a plurality of electric devices 22-28, a plurality of conductive paths 40, one seal member 31, and one connector 32. The electric devices provided include a fuel pump 22, a concentration sensor 23, a first pressure sensor 24, a second pressure sensor 25, a first temperature sensor 26, a second temperature sensor 27, and a level sensor 28.

[0021] The concentration sensor 23 detects the presence or absence of ammonia in the airtight space 29 and the concentration of ammonia. The first pressure sensor 24 detects the pressure in the airtight space 29. The second pressure sensor 25 detects the pressure in the tank 10. The first temperature sensor 26 detects the temperature in the airtight space 29. The second temperature sensor 27 detects the temperature in the tank 10. The level sensor 28 detects the liquid level of the liquefied gas in the tank 10.

[0022] The plurality of conductive paths 40 are individually connected to the plurality of electric devices 22-28 in the airtight space 29, and supply power to the electric devices 22-28 and transmit and receive electric signals to and from the electric devices 22-28. The plurality of conductive paths 40 are led out from the airtight space 29 to the outside of the outer shell body 15 by penetrating the outer shell body 15 while maintaining airtightness. As a means for penetrating the conductive paths 40 in an airtight manner, a through hole 30 is formed in the upper end of the outer shell body 15, and a seal member 31 is attached to the through hole 30. Ends of the plurality of conductive paths 40 are connected to a connector 32 outside the outer shell body 15. The connector 32 is adapted to be connected to a terminal portion of a cable (not shown) connected to a functional device (not shown), such as a power source or a control device.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, each conductive path 40 includes one electric wire 41 and one protective member 45. The electric wire 41 includes a copper core wire 42 and an insulating coating 44 made of synthetic resin. The core wire 42 is formed by twisting together a plurality of strands 43. The insulating coating 44 surrounds the entire circumference of the core wire 42. The protective member 45 includes an aluminum pipe 46 and an anodized aluminum layer 47 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the pipe 46. The anodized aluminum layer 47 is formed on the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface of the pipe 46. One end of the pipe 46 is airtightly attached to the electric devices 22 to 28. The other end of the pipe 46 is airtightly connected to the connector 32 by penetrating the seal member 31. The electric wire 41 is inserted into the pipe 46.

[0024] Next, the operation of the high pressure gas storage device A of the present embodiment 1 will be described. The tank 10 for storing ammonia gas is entirely surrounded by an airtight shell 15, and an airtight space 29 for temporarily storing ammonia gas leaked from the tank 10 is secured between the tank 10 and the shell 15. Therefore, even if the ammonia gas in the tank 10 leaks out of the tank 10, the leaked ammonia gas remains in the airtight space 29. Therefore, there is no risk that the ammonia gas leaking from the tank 10 will enter the cabin of the vehicle or spread to the periphery of the vehicle.

[0025] When ammonia gas in the tank 10 leaks into the airtight space 29, the ammonia gas is detected by the first concentration sensor 23, and a pressure increase in the airtight space 29 caused by the leakage of ammonia gas is detected by the first pressure sensor 24. When detection is performed by the first concentration sensor 23 or the first pressure sensor 24, a warning lamp is displayed on the instrument panel of the vehicle, or an alarm sound is generated in the cabin of the vehicle, to notify the occurrence of an abnormality.

[0026] An electric wire 41 having a copper core wire 42 surrounded by a synthetic resin insulating coating 44 is arranged in the airtight space 29. Ammonia gas has the property of permeating the synthetic resin insulating coating 44, and therefore there is a risk of it coming into contact with the core wire 42. There is a concern that copper may corrode due to contact with ammonia. In view of this, in this embodiment 1, the electric wire 41 is housed in a protective member 45. The protective member 45 has an anodized aluminum layer 47 that does not allow ammonia to pass through, and this anodized aluminum layer 47 surrounds the core wire 42. Therefore, there is no risk of ammonia gas coming into contact with the core wire 42.

[0027] The high-pressure gas storage device A of the present embodiment 1 includes a tank 10 for storing ammonia gas, an outer shell 15 surrounding the tank 10 with an airtight space 29, and a plurality of electrical devices 22-28 provided on the tank 10 or the outer shell 15. The high-pressure gas storage device A includes an electric wire 41 and a protective member 45. The electric wire 41 is configured such that a copper core wire 42 is surrounded by a resin insulating coating 44. The electric wire 41 is connected to the electrical devices 22-28 and is arranged in the airtight space 29. The protective member 45 is impermeable to ammonia gas and surrounds the core wire 42 in an airtight manner. According to the high-pressure gas storage device A of the present embodiment 1, the copper core wire 42 is surrounded by the protective member 45 in an airtight manner, so that corrosion of the core wire 42 caused by contact with ammonia gas can be prevented.

[0028] The protective member 45 includes an aluminum pipe 46 and an anodized aluminum layer 47 formed on the surface of the pipe 46. Since the aluminum pipe 46 is flexible, the shape of the protective member 45 (the conductive path 40) can be freely changed according to the wiring path of the electric wire 41.

[0029] <Example 2> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 3. In the second embodiment, the protective member 51 constituting the conductive path 50 has a different configuration from that of the first embodiment. Since the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations, and the description of the structure, operation and effect will be omitted.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the conductive path 50 includes one electric wire 41 and one protective member 51. The electric wire 41 is the same member as the electric wire 41 of the first embodiment. The protective member 51 includes an aluminum pipe 52 and a coating 53 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 52. The coating 53 is formed over the entire outer peripheral surface of the pipe 52. The coating 53 is made of an electroless nickel plating layer. The electroless nickel plating layer is made of electroless Ni-P plating. The P content is relatively high, for example, 13 wt %. The thickness of the coating 53 is, for example, 10 μm to 12 μm. The electroless Ni-P plating has high heat resistance and alkali resistance.

[0031] The conductive path 50 of the second embodiment is configured by housing the electric wire 41 within a protective member 51. The protective member 51 has a coating 53 made of an electroless nickel plating layer that does not allow ammonia gas to pass through. The core wire 42 is surrounded by this electroless nickel plating layer. Therefore, there is no risk of ammonia gas coming into contact with the core wire 42, and it is possible to prevent corrosion of the copper core wire 42 caused by contact with ammonia gas. Since the coating 53 is made of an electroless nickel plating layer, it is possible to form the coating 53 with a uniform thickness.

[0032] <Example 3> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 4. In the third embodiment, the conductive path 60 has a different configuration from that of the first embodiment. Since the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations, and the description of the structure, operation, and effect will be omitted.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 4, the conductive path 60 is configured to include one electric wire 61 and one protective member 65. The electric wire 61 has a copper core wire 62 and an insulating coating 64 made of synthetic resin. The core wire 62 is configured by twisting together a plurality of element wires 63. The protective member 65 is configured by a coating 66 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the core wire 62. The coating 66 is formed over the entire outer circumferential surface of the core wire 62.

[0034] The coating 66 is made of an electroless nickel plating layer. The electroless nickel plating layer is made of electroless Ni-P plating. The P content is relatively high, for example, 13 wt %. The thickness of the coating 66 is, for example, 10 μm to 12 μm. The electroless Ni-P plating has high heat resistance and alkali resistance. The insulating coating 64 is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the protective member 65 (coating 66) so as to surround the entire periphery.

[0035] In the conductive path 60 of the third embodiment, a coating 66 is interposed between the core wire 62 and the insulating coating 64 constituting the electric wire 61 as a protective member 65. The coating 66 is made of an electroless nickel plating layer that does not allow ammonia gas to pass through, and surrounds the core wire 62. Therefore, there is no risk of the core wire 62 coming into contact with ammonia gas, and it is possible to prevent corrosion of the copper core wire 62 caused by contact with ammonia gas. Since the coating 66 is made of an electroless nickel plating layer, it is possible to form the coating 66 with a uniform thickness. Since the protective member 65 is made of the coating 66 formed directly on the outer circumferential surface of the core wire 62, it is not necessary to insert the electric wire 61 into a separate protective member having a tubular shape. Since the coating 66 is made of an electroless nickel plating layer, it is possible to form the coating 66 with a uniform thickness.

[0036] <Other Examples> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and the following embodiments are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. In the first to third embodiments, the core wire is not limited to a twisted wire, and may be a single core wire. In the first embodiment, a plurality of electric wires may be inserted into one pipe. In the second embodiment, the material of the pipe may be a metal other than aluminum, a synthetic resin, an elastomer, or the like. In the second and third embodiments, the coating is not limited to the electroless nickel plating layer, but may be an electroplating layer or an anodic oxidation coating. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] A…High pressure gas storage device 10. Tank 15…External shell 22...Fuel pump (electrical equipment) 23...Concentration sensor (electrical equipment) 24...First pressure sensor (electrical device) 25...Second pressure sensor (electrical device) 26...First temperature sensor (electrical equipment) 27...Second temperature sensor (electrical equipment) 28...Level sensor (electrical equipment) 29...Airtight space 41...Electric wire 42…Core wire 44…Insulating coating 45...Protective material 46…Pipe 47…Anodized layer 51...Protective material 52…Pipe 53...Membrane 61...Electric wire 62…Core wire 64…Insulating coating 65...Protective material 66...Coating

Claims

1. A tank for storing ammonia gas; an outer shell surrounding the tank with an airtight space; A plurality of electrical devices provided in the tank or the outer shell; An electric wire having a copper core surrounded by a resin insulating coating, connected to the electric device and arranged in the airtight space; A high-pressure gas storage device comprising: a protective member that is impermeable to ammonia gas and airtightly surrounds the core wire.

2. 2. The high-pressure gas storage device according to claim 1, wherein the protective member comprises an aluminum pipe and an anodized aluminum layer formed on the surface of the pipe.

3. 2. The high-pressure gas storage device according to claim 1, wherein the protective member comprises a pipe and a coating formed on a surface of the pipe.

4. 2. The high-pressure gas storage device according to claim 1, wherein the protective member is formed of a coating directly formed on an outer circumferential surface of the core wire.

5. 5. The high-pressure gas storage device according to claim 3, wherein the coating is formed of an electroless nickel plating layer.

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