Hydrogen tank system

Abstract

To provide a technology reducing charging time.SOLUTION: A hydrogen tank system comprises: a first tank having a difference pressure-type valve; a second tank having an electromagnetic valve; a manifold; a first flow path connecting the first tank and the manifold; a second flow path connecting the second tank and the manifold and different from the first flow path; a first pressure gauge measuring a first pressure as a pressure in the first tank; a third pressure gauge measuring a third pressure as a pressure in the manifold; and a control part opening the electromagnetic valve when the difference between the first pressure and the third pressure is a prescribed threshold value or more.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a hydrogen tank system. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a hydrogen tank system that includes multiple hydrogen tanks and an electromagnetic valve provided for each tank. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technology in which multiple hydrogen tanks are each connected to two separate lines, a filling line and a discharging line. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-187187 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In place of solenoid valves, differential pressure valves, which have fewer parts, are sometimes used. However, when differential pressure valves are used in hydrogen tank systems where the filling line and discharge line are shared, it is difficult to determine the pressure difference before and after the valve that occurs due to temperature changes and volume differences in the tank. For this reason, technology that can accurately control the opening and closing of differential pressure valves has been desired. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can be realized in the following forms.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a hydrogen tank system comprising: a first tank having a differential pressure valve, a second tank having an electromagnetic valve, a manifold, a first flow path connecting the first tank and the manifold, a second flow path different from the first flow path connecting the second tank and the manifold, a first pressure gauge measuring a first pressure that is a pressure in the first tank, a third pressure gauge measuring a third pressure that is a pressure in the manifold, and a controller that opens the electromagnetic valve when a difference between the first pressure and the third pressure is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. According to this type of hydrogen tank system, the solenoid valve is given priority in opening, so that the pressure difference can be adjusted appropriately, thereby enabling the pressure difference valve to be opened and closed accurately.

[0007] The present disclosure can be realized in various forms, for example, in the form of a valve control method or the like. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of a hydrogen tank system. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a valve control process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A. First embodiment: 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overview of a hydrogen tank system 100 according to this embodiment. The hydrogen tank system 100 is a system that is mounted on, for example, a fuel cell vehicle and supplies hydrogen gas, which is a fuel gas, to a fuel cell. The hydrogen tank system 100 includes a plurality of first tanks 10, a second tank 20, a receptacle 30, a check valve 40, a manifold 50, a pressure reducing valve 60, and a control unit 70.

[0010] The first tank 10 is a tank having a differential pressure valve 11 and a first pressure gauge 12. The first tank 10 is connected to the manifold 50 via a first flow path 13. In this embodiment, the first flow path 13 is a pipe through which hydrogen gas flows when the first tank 10 is filled with hydrogen gas and when hydrogen gas is released from the first tank 10. The differential pressure valve 11 has a differential pressure valve that opens when the difference between the pressure in the first tank 10 and the pressure in the first flow path 13 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined valve opening pressure. Hereinafter, the magnitude of the difference between the first pressure and the third pressure is also referred to as the differential pressure. The first pressure gauge 12 measures the first pressure, which is the pressure in the first tank 10, and outputs it to the control unit 70.

[0011] The second tank 20 is a tank having an electromagnetic valve 21 and a second pressure gauge 22. The second tank 20 is connected to the manifold 50 via a second flow path 23 different from the first flow path 13. In this embodiment, the second flow path 23 is a pipe through which hydrogen gas flows when hydrogen gas is filled into the second tank 20 and when hydrogen gas is released from the second tank 20. The electromagnetic valve 21 has an electromagnetic valve that is normally closed and opens when current is applied. The second pressure gauge 22 measures a second pressure, which is the pressure inside the second tank 20, and outputs the measured pressure to the control unit 70.

[0012] The receptacle 30 is a filling port for hydrogen gas. In this embodiment, a nozzle of a hydrogen station is attached to the receptacle 30 when filling the hydrogen gas.

[0013] The hydrogen gas filled from the receptacle 30 flows through the filling flow path 31 toward the first tank 10 and the second tank 20. The filling flow path 31 is provided with a check valve 40, a manifold 50, and a pressure reducing valve 60 in this order from upstream.

[0014] The check valve 40 prevents the hydrogen gas filled in the first tank 10 and the second tank 20 from flowing back toward the receptacle 30.

[0015] The manifold 50 has a third pressure gauge 52 that measures a third pressure, which is the pressure in the manifold 50. The third pressure gauge 52 outputs the measured value of the third pressure to the control unit .

[0016] The pressure reducing valve 60 reduces the pressure of the hydrogen gas released from the first tank 10 and the second tank 20 to a supply pressure to a fuel cell (not shown).

[0017] The control unit 70 is made up of a computer including a central processing unit (CPU), RAM, ROM, etc., and realizes drive control of the electromagnetic valve 21 by executing a program preinstalled in the storage area of ​​the control unit 70. However, part or all of these controls may be realized by a hardware circuit.

[0018] 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the valve control process. The valve control process is a process in which the control unit 70 controls the operation of the electromagnetic valve 21 depending on the magnitude of the difference between the first pressure and the third pressure. In this embodiment, this process is executed when hydrogen gas is filled into the first tank 10 and the second tank 20, and when hydrogen gas is released from the first tank 10 and the second tank 20. In other words, the valve control process is executed when the hydrogen tank system 100 is started up. At the start of this process, the valve of the electromagnetic valve 21 is closed.

[0019] In step S100, the control unit 70 judges whether or not the differential pressure between the first pressure and the third pressure is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. In this embodiment, the control unit 70 judges using the largest differential pressure among the differential pressures between the first pressure and the third pressure. The threshold is a value experimentally determined in advance, and is a differential pressure at which the valve of the differential pressure valve 11 can be opened. The threshold is preferably equal to or less than the above-mentioned valve opening pressure at which the valve of the differential pressure valve 11 opens. If the differential pressure is equal to or greater than the threshold, the control unit 70 proceeds to the process of step S110. On the other hand, if the differential pressure is less than the threshold, the control unit 70 ends the valve control process. The control unit 70 may open the valve of the electromagnetic valve 21.

[0020] In step S110, the control unit 70 drives the electromagnetic valve 21. More specifically, the control unit 70 performs control to open the electromagnetic valve 21. This reduces the pressure difference.

[0021] In step S120, the control unit 70 determines whether the differential pressure is less than the threshold value. If the differential pressure is less than the threshold value, the control unit 70 ends the valve control process. On the other hand, if the differential pressure is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the control unit 70 returns to the process of step S120. That is, the process of step S120 is repeated until the differential pressure becomes less than the threshold value and the differential pressure valve 11 can open.

[0022] According to the hydrogen tank system 100 of this embodiment described above, when the differential pressure is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the control unit 70 gives priority to opening the solenoid valve 21, thereby making it possible to adjust the differential pressure to an appropriate level. This allows the differential pressure valve 11 to be opened and closed accurately.

[0023] In addition, the first tank 10 is connected to the manifold 50 via a first flow path 13 through which hydrogen gas filled in the first tank 10 and hydrogen gas released from the first tank 10 flow, and the second tank 20 is connected to the manifold 50 via a second flow path 23 through which hydrogen gas filled in the second tank 20 and hydrogen gas released from the second tank 20 flow. In other words, because the hydrogen gas filling line and discharge line are shared, the number of parts can be reduced and the hydrogen tank system 100 can be simplified.

[0024] B. Other embodiments: (B1) In the above-described embodiment, the hydrogen tank system 100 includes a plurality of first tanks 10 and one second tank 20. This is not limiting, and the hydrogen tank system 100 may include one first tank 10 and one second tank 20, or may include a plurality of first tanks 10 and a plurality of second tanks 20.

[0025] (B2) In the above-described embodiment, the first tank 10 fills with and releases hydrogen gas via the first flow path 13, and the second tank 20 fills with and releases hydrogen gas via the second flow path 23. This is not limiting, and the first tank 10 may fill with and release hydrogen gas via different flow paths. Similarly, the second tank 20 may fill with and release hydrogen gas via different flow paths.

[0026] (B3) In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 70 executes the valve control process when filling the first tank 10 and the second tank 20 with hydrogen gas and when releasing hydrogen gas from the first tank 10 and the second tank 20. Without being limited to this, the control unit 70 may execute the valve control process only when filling with hydrogen gas, or may execute the valve control process only when releasing hydrogen gas.

[0027] (B4) In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 70 makes the determination using the largest differential pressure among the differential pressures between the first pressure and the third pressure. However, the control unit 70 may use the average or median of the differential pressures.

[0028] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each form described in the Summary of the Invention column can be appropriately replaced or combined in order to solve the above-mentioned problems or to achieve some or all of the above-mentioned effects. Furthermore, if the technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] Reference Signs List 10...first tank, 11...differential pressure valve, 12...first pressure gauge, 13...first flow path, 20...second tank, 21...electromagnetic valve, 22...second pressure gauge, 23...second flow path, 30...receptacle, 31...filling flow path, 40...check valve, 50...manifold, 52...third pressure gauge, 60...pressure reducing valve, 70...control unit, 100...hydrogen tank system

Claims

[Claim 1] 1. A hydrogen tank system, comprising: a first tank having a differential pressure valve; a second tank having an electromagnetic valve; A manifold; a first flow passage connecting the first tank and the manifold; a second flow passage different from the first flow passage, the second flow passage connecting the second tank and the manifold; a first pressure gauge that measures a first pressure that is a pressure in the first tank; a third pressure gauge that measures a third pressure that is a pressure inside the manifold; a control unit that opens the electromagnetic valve when a difference between the first pressure and the third pressure is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

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