Fuel cell vehicle
By designing upwardly discharged fuel gas emission pipelines in fuel cell vehicles, the safety hazards of increased abnormal pressure of fuel gas are solved, and the safe emissions of fuel cell vehicles under abnormal conditions are ensured.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023121903
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-06
AI Technical Summary
In fuel cell vehicles, when the abnormal pressure of fuel gas increases due to the failure of the pressure reducing valve, it is difficult to discharge the fuel gas safely, especially the transparent combustion characteristics of hydrogen make it difficult to be visually recognized, which poses a safety hazard.
A fuel gas emission pipeline is designed to pass through the interior of the vehicle's housing and discharge upwards, ensuring that the fuel gas is discharged upwards through the safety valve under abnormal conditions and avoid contact with people or objects in the vehicle.
It realizes safely discharge of fuel gas upward under abnormal conditions, avoids harm to people and objects in the vehicle, and improves the safety of fuel cell vehicles.
Smart Images

Figure 2025018311000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel cell vehicle. [Background technology]
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a fuel cell vehicle that has a storage section located behind the passenger section where the occupants sit, and that contains a fuel cell, a fuel tank, and various electrical components necessary for the operation of the fuel cell. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-107251 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] The fuel gas stored in the fuel tank is supplied from the fuel tank to the fuel cell through a fuel gas supply line. When the fuel gas is supplied to the fuel cell, the pressure of the fuel gas is reduced to a predetermined level through a pressure reducing valve installed in the fuel gas supply line.
[0005] In the event that an abnormality occurs in the pressure of the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply line due to a malfunction of the pressure reducing valve, etc., it is necessary to take measures to quickly discharge the fuel gas out of the system after the abnormality occurs and to suppress the increase in pressure in the fuel gas supply line.
[0006] Hydrogen gas is used as the fuel gas for fuel cells. Hydrogen gas has a small minimum ignition energy, and its flame is transparent and difficult to see with the naked eye even if combustion is occurring. Therefore, when discharging hydrogen gas from the system, the characteristics of hydrogen gas must be taken into consideration to ensure safety.
[0007] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell vehicle that is capable of safely discharging fuel gas in the event of an abnormality. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a fuel cell vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a fuel cell, a fuel tank for storing fuel gas for the fuel cell, a fuel gas supply path arranged so that the fuel gas stored in the fuel tank can be supplied to the fuel cell, a storage unit for housing the fuel cell, the fuel tank and the fuel gas supply path, and a fuel gas exhaust pipe for exhausting the fuel gas from the fuel gas supply path in the event of an abnormality in the fuel gas, the fuel gas exhaust pipe being connected to the fuel gas supply path at one end and penetrating the storage unit from the inside to the outside, having the other end outside the storage unit, and being capable of releasing the fuel gas upward in the vertical direction of the vehicle at the other end. Effect of the Invention
[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, in the event of an abnormality in the fuel gas, the fuel gas can be guided to the outside of the storage unit through the fuel gas exhaust pipe and released from the other end provided outside the storage unit. Here, by setting the direction of release of the fuel gas to be upward with respect to the vertical direction of the vehicle, it is possible to prevent the released fuel gas from coming into contact with vehicle occupants, parts mounted on the vehicle, or people or objects present around the vehicle, and it is possible to ensure safety when releasing the fuel gas. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a schematic diagram of a fuel gas supply system provided in the fuel cell vehicle. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the dimensions of the exhaust pipes with first and second safety valves outside the storage box. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012] (Overall configuration of fuel cell vehicle) Fig. 1 is a side view of a fuel cell vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as "vehicle") 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a rear view of the vehicle 1. The overall configuration of the vehicle 1 will be described mainly based on Fig. 1, with appropriate reference to Fig. 2.
[0013] 1 and 2, the front-rear direction Dl refers to the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle 1, and corresponds to the length direction of the vehicle 1. The same is true for the left-right direction Dw and the up-down direction Dh, where the left-right direction Dw corresponds to the width direction of the vehicle 1, and the up-down direction Dh corresponds to the height direction of the vehicle 1.
[0014] The vehicle 1 is for one person. However, the vehicle 1 may be designed for two or more people. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the vehicle is used within a premises, the vehicle is not provided with a seat and is designed for riding in a standing position, but it is also possible to provide a seat and configure the vehicle so that the passenger can ride in a sitting position. The vehicle 1 is not limited to a vehicle of a general form, and may be a vehicle classified as a so-called mobility car. Examples of such vehicles include personal mobility, which is a low-speed means of transportation for one person, and ultra-compact mobility, which is more compact than a general vehicle (e.g., a passenger car).
[0015] The vehicle 1 includes a front wheel Wf and a rear wheel Wr. In this embodiment, the front wheel Wf and the rear wheel Wr are provided on the left and right sides, respectively. In this manner, the four-wheeled form can ensure stability when the vehicle is standing. The number of the front wheels Wf and the rear wheels Wr may be any number. For example, the vehicle may be configured as a three-wheeled form with two rear wheels Wr and one front wheel Wf, or as a two-wheeled form with one front wheel Wf and one rear wheel Wr. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the front wheels Wf have a smaller diameter than the rear wheels Wr, but the present invention is not limited to this, and both may have the same diameter, or the rear wheels Wr may have a smaller diameter than the front wheels Wf.
[0016] The vehicle 1 includes a riding section 11 in which a passenger rides, an operation section 12 which the passenger operates when driving, a main body section 13 which houses drive system elements of the vehicle 1, and a housing section 14 which houses power system elements of the vehicle 1. The drive system elements of the vehicle 1 specifically include an electric motor which is the drive source of the vehicle 1 and its peripheral devices, and the power system elements of the vehicle 1 specifically include a fuel cell 101, a fuel tank 102, and related electrical components.
[0017] The passenger section 11 includes a floorboard 111, and a passenger rides in the vehicle 1 facing forward or in the forward direction of the vehicle 1 while standing or placing his / her feet on the floorboard 111. The front of the floorboard 111 is shielded by a cowl or leg shield 112, and a space S sandwiched between the cowl 112 and a storage section 14 (described later) on the front and rear sides forms a passenger riding space. The passenger section 11 may include a roof.
[0018] The operation unit 12 includes a handlebar 121, and the occupant can operate the handlebar 121 to run or move the vehicle 1 forward and change the traveling direction of the vehicle 1. The handlebar 121 is provided above the cowl 112, and the occupant can grasp and operate the handlebar 121 while standing on the floor board 111. In addition to the handlebar 121, the operation unit 12 includes a rearview mirror 122 for checking the rear.
[0019] The main body 13 is provided behind the riding section 11 and incorporates drive system elements of the vehicle 1. As described above, the main body 13 incorporates an electric motor and its peripheral devices (not shown) as drive system elements, and is capable of transmitting the rotational power of the electric motor to the rear wheels Wr. That is, in this embodiment, the rear wheels Wr are the drive wheels of the vehicle 1, and the front wheels Wf are the driven wheels. It is also possible to use the front wheels Wf as drive wheels and the rear wheels Wr as driven wheels. In this case, the rotational power of the electric motor provided in the main body 13 behind the riding section 11 can be transmitted to the front wheels Wf via a power transmission mechanism, or the main body 13 itself is disposed in front of the riding section 11, and the rotational power of the electric motor provided in the main body 13 in front of the riding section 11 can be transmitted to the front wheels Wf.
[0020] The storage section 14 is provided behind the riding section 11 and above the main body section 13. In this embodiment, the storage section 14 includes a box-like body (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "storage box") 141 that is shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped or hexahedron as a whole, and a top portion of the box-like body is closed by a roof 142. In other words, the storage section 14 is composed of the storage box 141 and the roof 142.
[0021] The roof 142 is divided into a front roof 142f and a rear roof 142r. The front roof 142f has a slope that increases in height from its front end toward the rear in the horizontal direction, while the rear roof 142r has a slope that increases in height from its rear end toward the front in the horizontal direction. The front roof 142f and the rear roof 142r overlap each other with a gap between them in the vertical direction near the center of the storage section 14 or the storage box 141 in the front-rear direction Dl, and an opening extending in the left-right direction Dw is formed between the rear end of the front roof 142f and the front end of the rear roof 142r. The storage section 14 or the storage box 141 is in a state where the inside and outside are in communication through this opening. In this embodiment, the rear end of the front roof 142f is located above the front end of the rear roof 142r, and the opening opens toward the rear of the vehicle 1.
[0022] (Configuration of fuel gas supply system) FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a fuel gas supply system provided in the vehicle 1. As shown in FIG.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle 1 incorporates, as power system elements, a fuel cell 101, a fuel tank 102, and related electrical components (not shown), etc.
[0024] The fuel cell 101 is a solid polymer fuel cell that includes an ion exchange membrane and generates electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The electricity generated by the fuel cell 101 is supplied to an electric motor to operate it.
[0025] The fuel tank 102 stores the fuel gas for the fuel cell 101. The fuel gas is hydrogen gas, and is stored in the fuel tank 102 in a high-pressure state compressed to about 70 MPa. In this embodiment, a plurality of (for example, three) fuel tanks 102 are provided, and fuel gas can be supplied from each of the plurality of fuel tanks 102 to the fuel cell 101. The fuel cell 101 receives a supply of hydrogen gas, which is the fuel gas, from the fuel tank 102, and also receives a supply of oxygen contained in the air in the atmosphere as an oxidizing gas to react with the hydrogen. FIG. 1 shows an opening A1 for taking in air, and in this embodiment, the opening A1 is provided on a side portion of the storage box 141.
[0026] 1, the multiple fuel tanks 102 are arranged vertically inside the storage box 141, and the fuel cell 101 is arranged shifted forward and backward relative to the multiple fuel tanks 102. In this embodiment, the fuel tank 102 is arranged at the front, and the fuel cell 101 is arranged at the rear. It is also possible to switch the positions of the fuel cell 101 and the fuel tank 102 front to back, and arrange the fuel cell 101 at the front and the fuel tank 102 at the rear.
[0027] Returning to FIG. 3, the fuel tank 102 is connected to the fuel cell 1 via a fuel gas supply path 103. The fuel gas supply path 103 includes a branching portion 1031 and a collecting portion 1032, and the branching portion 1031 and the collecting portion 1032 are connected to each other at a junction or manifold portion 104. Specifically, the branching portion 1031 has one end connected to the fuel tank 102 and the other end connected to the junction portion 104. The collecting portion 1032 has one end connected to the junction portion 104 and the other end connected to the fuel cell 101, and is connected to the branching portion 1031 extending from each of the fuel tanks 102 via the junction portion 104. As a result, the fuel gas stored in the fuel tank 102 flows into the collecting portion 1032 via the branching portion 1031 and the junction portion 104, and is supplied to the fuel cell 101 via the collecting portion 1032.
[0028] In the fuel gas supply passage 103, a high-pressure side pressure reducing valve 105 is provided upstream of the junction 104, i.e., at the branching portion 1031, and a low-pressure side pressure reducing valve 106 is provided downstream of the junction 104, i.e., at the collecting portion 1032. One high-pressure side pressure reducing valve 105 is provided for each fuel tank 102, i.e., at each branching portion 1031 (thus, three in this embodiment), and one low-pressure side pressure reducing valve 106 is provided for each collecting portion 1032 (thus, one in this embodiment). The pressure of the fuel gas flowing through the branching portion 1031 is reduced to about 600 [kPa] to 700 [kPa] when passing through the high-pressure side pressure reducing valve 105, and is further reduced to about 40 [kPa] to 60 [kPa] when passing through the low-pressure side pressure reducing valve 106. The specific pressure values given above, including the original pressure of 70 MPa, are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. The pressure of the fuel gas stored in the fuel tank 102 is adjusted in stages by a plurality of pressure reducing valves 105 and 106 and supplied to the fuel cell 101.
[0029] (Details of fuel gas exhaust pipe) In this embodiment, a plurality of exhaust pipes (hereinafter referred to as "fuel gas exhaust pipes") 201, 301 are provided for exhausting the fuel gas from the fuel gas supply path 103 to the outside of the system when an abnormality, particularly an abnormality related to pressure, occurs in the fuel gas flowing through the fuel gas supply path 103. The following two examples of abnormalities that may occur with the fuel gas are listed below. A) Pressure abnormality in which the pressure of the fuel gas flowing through the collecting section 1032 rises excessively due to a failure of the high pressure side pressure reducing valve 105 or the low pressure side pressure reducing valve 106, etc. a) Pressure abnormality occurs when the pressure inside the fuel tank 102 increases due to heat received from an external heat source (for example, heating due to a fire), causing the pressure of the fuel gas flowing through the branching portion 1031 to become abnormal. Here, the above-mentioned "outside the system" refers to the outside of the fuel gas supply system shown in FIG.
[0030] The fuel gas discharge pipes 201, 301 have one end 2011, 3011 and the other end 2012, 3012, and are connected to the fuel gas supply channel 103 at the one end 2011, 3011, penetrate the storage box 141 from the one end 2011, 3011 to the other end 2012, 3012, and are open at the other end 2012, 3012, communicating with the atmosphere. In other words, the fuel gas discharge pipes 201, 301 have one end 2011, 3011 inside the storage box 141, and the other end 2012, 3012 outside the storage box 141.
[0031] In this embodiment, the fuel gas exhaust pipes 201, 301 include a plurality of exhaust pipes, specifically a first fuel gas exhaust pipe 301 provided for abnormal fuel gas pressure at the collecting portion 1032, and a second fuel gas exhaust pipe 201 provided for abnormal fuel gas pressure at the branching portion 1031. As will be described in detail later with reference to Fig. 4, the opening ends of the first and second fuel gas exhaust pipes 201, 301 are both set such that the fuel gas is exhausted from the other ends 2012, 3012 upward in the vertical direction Dh of the vehicle 1.
[0032] The first fuel gas discharge pipe 301 is provided at least either on the upstream side or downstream side of the low-pressure side pressure reducing valve 106 , and one end 3011 is connected to a collecting portion 1032 of the fuel gas supply passage 103 .
[0033] Here, the connection portion between the first fuel gas discharge pipe 301 and the fuel gas supply path 103, i.e., one end 3011 of the first fuel gas discharge pipe 301, is provided at a position closer to the pressure reducing valve, specifically, the low-pressure side pressure reducing valve 106, than the fuel tank 102.
[0034] On the other hand, the other end 3012 of the first fuel gas discharge pipe 301 is provided at the height of the upper part of the storage section 14, that is, the storage box 141 or at a higher position, and is provided relatively close to the low-pressure side pressure reducing valve 106 since the position of the one end 3011 is close to the low-pressure side pressure reducing valve 106. Regarding the first fuel gas discharge pipe 301, the "upper part" of the storage box 141 refers to the upper half of the storage box 141, and preferably refers to the part in which the fuel tank 102 (in the case where a plurality of fuel tanks 102 are arranged shifted vertically, the fuel tank arranged at the highest position) is accommodated and the part above this. In this embodiment, the other end 3012 is provided above the center of the highest fuel tank 102, particularly above the upper edge when the fuel tank 102 is installed sideways. FIG. 1 shows the height position H1 of the upper edge of the highest fuel tank 102.
[0035] The first fuel gas discharge pipe 301 includes a first safety valve 302 interposed midway from one end 3011 to the other end 3012. The first safety valve 302 is normally in a closed state and prevents the passage of fuel gas through the first fuel gas discharge pipe 301, but opens in response to an increase in fuel gas pressure due to a failure of the pressure reducing valves 105, 106 or the like, to allow the passage of the fuel gas, that is, the release of the fuel gas at the other end 3012. FIG. 1 shows the arrangement of the first safety valve 302 in the accommodation unit 14. In this embodiment, the first safety valve 302 is arranged near the fuel cell 101, and is housed in a common housing together with the low-pressure side pressure reducing valve 106.
[0036] In this embodiment, the first fuel gas exhaust pipe 301 is provided both upstream and downstream of the low-pressure side pressure reducing valve 106, but the first fuel gas exhaust pipe 301 may be provided only upstream or only downstream of the low-pressure side pressure reducing valve 106. The first fuel gas exhaust pipe 301 corresponds to the "exhaust pipe with a first safety valve" in this embodiment, and an example of an applicable exhaust pipe with a safety valve is a pipe with a pressure relief valve (PRV).
[0037] The second fuel gas discharge pipe 201 is provided upstream of the low-pressure side pressure reducing valve 106 and the high-pressure side pressure reducing valve 105 , and one end 2011 is connected to the branched portion 1031 of the fuel gas supply pipe 103 .
[0038] Here, the connection portion between the second fuel gas discharge pipe 201 and the fuel gas supply path 103, i.e., one end portion 2011 of the second fuel gas discharge pipe 201, is provided at a position closer to the fuel tank 102 than the pressure reducing valve, specifically, the low-pressure side pressure reducing valve 106.
[0039] In contrast, the other end 2012 of the second fuel gas discharge pipe 201 is provided at the same height as or higher than the upper part of the accommodation section 14, i.e., the storage box 141, and is provided relatively close to the fuel tank 102 since the position of the one end 2011 is close to the fuel tank 102. With respect to the second fuel gas discharge pipe 201, the "upper part" of the storage box 141 refers to the upper half of the storage box 141, and preferably refers to the part in which the fuel cell 101 is accommodated and the part above that. In this embodiment, the other end 2012 is provided above the center of the fuel cell 101, and in particular above its upper edge. FIG. 1 shows the height position H2 of the upper edge of the fuel cell 101.
[0040] The second fuel gas discharge pipe 201 includes a second safety valve 202 interposed midway from one end 2011 to the other end 2012. The second safety valve 202 is configured by a so-called fusible plug valve, and is normally in a closed state to prevent the passage of fuel gas through the second fuel gas discharge pipe 201. However, in response to an increase in the pressure of the fuel gas due to heat received by the fuel tank 102, the valve body melts to open the valve, allowing the passage of the fuel gas, that is, the release of the fuel gas at the other end 2012. FIG. 1 shows the arrangement of the second safety valve 202 in the accommodation unit 14. In this embodiment, the second safety valve 202 is arranged near the fuel tank 102 to which the corresponding branch portion 1031 is connected, and is housed in a common housing together with the high-pressure side pressure reducing valve 105.
[0041] The second fuel gas discharge pipe 201 corresponds to the "discharge pipe with a second safety valve" according to this embodiment, and an example of an applicable discharge pipe with a safety valve is a pipe with a pressure prevention safety device (PRD).
[0042] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the dimensions of the first and second fuel gas discharge pipes 201, 301 outside the storage box 141. As shown in FIG.
[0043] The first fuel gas exhaust pipe 301 and the second fuel gas exhaust pipe 201 have, outside the storage box 141, laterally extending portions 201a, 301a that extend in the left-right direction Dw or horizontally away from the storage box 141, and vertically extending portions 201b, 301b that are continuous with the laterally extending portions 201a, 301a and extend in the up-down direction Dh or upward in the vertical direction along the outer wall surface of the storage box 141.
[0044] Due to the presence of the laterally extending portions 201a, 301a, the first fuel gas exhaust pipe 301 and the second fuel gas exhaust pipe 201 both have the other end portions 2012, 3012 located away from the outer wall surface of the storage box 141 in the left-right direction Dw, in this embodiment, located away outward from the right side surface of the storage box 141.
[0045] The other ends 3012, 2012 of the first fuel gas exhaust pipe 301 and the second fuel gas exhaust pipe 201 are set so that the opening ends, i.e., the direction of the fuel gas discharge, are directed upward in the vertical direction Dh, and are set so that the discharged fuel gas does not come into contact with the storage box 141 and the roof 142, in other words, so that the range of the fuel gas discharge is deflected upward relative to the entire storage section 14 including the roof 142.
[0046] In this embodiment, the term "upward" in relation to the direction of fuel gas discharge means that the central axis of the open end is inclined upward, in other words, has an angle vertically upward with respect to the horizontal direction. The angle of the central axis is greater than 0°, preferably 45° or more, and more preferably 90°.
[0047] Here, the dimensions of the horizontal extensions 201a, 301a are indicated by dt1, dt2, respectively, and the dimensions of the vertical extensions 201b, 301b are indicated by dv1, dv2, respectively. In this embodiment, the total dimension (=dt1+dv1) of the second safety valve equipped discharge pipe 201 outside the storage box 141 is shorter than the total dimension (=dt2+dv2) of the first safety valve equipped discharge pipe 301 outside the storage box 141. Furthermore, the dimension dv1 of the second safety valve equipped discharge pipe 201 in the height direction Dh outside the storage box 141 is shorter than the dimension dv2 of the first safety valve equipped discharge pipe 301 in the height direction Dh outside the storage box 141. dt1+dv1 <dt2+dv2 …(1) dv1 <dv2 …(2)
[0048] (Explanation of action and effect) The fuel cell vehicle 1 according to this embodiment has the above-mentioned configuration. The effects obtained by this embodiment will be described below.
[0049] First, in the event of an abnormality in the fuel gas, the fuel gas can be guided to the outside of the storage unit 14 via the fuel gas discharge pipes 201, 301 and discharged from the other ends 2012, 3012 of the fuel gas discharge pipes 201, 301. Here, by discharging the fuel gas upward in the vertical direction Dh of the vehicle 1, the direction of discharge of the fuel gas can be deflected away from the occupants of the vehicle 1, parts provided in the vehicle 1 (e.g., the storage box 141), and people or objects present around the vehicle 1, thereby making it possible to ensure safety when discharging the fuel gas.
[0050] Secondly, by providing the other end 2012, 3012 of the fuel gas exhaust pipe 201, 301 at the same height as or higher than the upper part of the storage section 14 or the storage box 141, the direction of release of the fuel gas can be reliably deflected away from the occupants of the vehicle 1, thereby better ensuring safety when the fuel gas is released.
[0051] Thirdly, since the range in which the fuel gas is released from the fuel gas exhaust pipes 201, 301 is above the storage section 14 or the storage box 141, it is possible to prevent the released fuel gas from coming into contact with the storage box 141 which contains electrical components etc. related to the operation of the vehicle 1 and the fuel cell 101, thereby improving safety.
[0052] Fourthly, by arranging the other end 3012 of the first fuel gas discharge pipe 301 relatively closer to the pressure reducing valve (low-pressure side pressure reducing valve 106) than the fuel tank 102, while arranging the other end 2012 of the second fuel gas discharge pipe 201 relatively closer to the fuel tank 102 than the pressure reducing valve (low-pressure side pressure reducing valve 106), it becomes possible to arrange the one end 2011 where the second fuel gas discharge pipe 201 connects to the fuel gas supply channel 103 closer to the fuel tank 102 than the one end 3011 where the first fuel gas discharge pipe 301 connects to the fuel gas supply channel 103. This shortens the pipe length of the second fuel gas discharge pipe 201, which tends to have a higher pressure especially in an abnormality, and promotes a simplified structure, making it possible to prevent a situation in which the pipe is deformed by high-pressure fuel gas and fuel gas is discharged in an unintended direction in an abnormality.
[0053] Fifth, by positioning the other ends 2012, 3012 of the fuel gas exhaust pipes 201, 301 at a distance from the outer wall surface of the storage box 141, it is possible to more reliably prevent the released fuel gas from coming into contact with the storage box 141, thereby further improving safety.
[0054] Sixth, while it is difficult to set a fixing point for the pipe outside the storage box 141, by making the length dimension (= dt1 + dv1) of the second fuel gas exhaust pipe 201 outside the storage box 141 relatively short, it is possible to prevent the second fuel gas exhaust pipe 201 from deforming outside the storage box 141 in the event of an abnormality, causing a deviation in the release direction of the fuel gas.
[0055] On the other hand, by making the length dimension (=dt2+dv2) of the first fuel gas discharge pipe 301 outside the storage box 141 relatively long, it becomes possible to discharge the fuel gas at a position away from the storage box 141.
[0056] Furthermore, by making the dimension dv1 in the height direction Dh of the second fuel gas exhaust pipe 201 outside the storage box 141 relatively short, it is possible to increase the rigidity of the second fuel gas exhaust pipe 201 outside the storage box 141 and suppress deformation due to pressure when releasing the fuel gas.
[0057] In this embodiment, the fuel cell 101 and the fuel tank 102 are arranged side by side in the front and rear. This reduces the height of the accommodation section 104 or the storage box 141, widens the rearward field of vision of the occupant, and ensures good rearward visibility. The positional relationship between the two may be such that the fuel cell 101 is in the front or the fuel tank 102 is in the front. This is not limited to this, and the fuel cell 101 and the fuel tank 102 may be arranged one above the other. In this case as well, the other end 2012, 3012 of the fuel gas discharge pipes 201, 301 is provided outside the accommodation section 104, and the orientation of the open end is set so that the fuel gas is discharged from the other end 2012, 3012 upward in the vertical direction Dh of the vehicle 1.
[0058] Furthermore, the vehicle 1 may be an unmanned vehicle or unmanned mobility that does not assume the presence of a passenger and does not have a passenger section 11. [Explanation of symbols]
[0059] 1... fuel cell vehicle, 11... passenger compartment, 12... operating section, 13... main body, 14... storage section, 141... storage box, 142... roof, 142f... front roof, 142r... rear roof, 101... fuel cell, 102... fuel tank, 103... fuel gas supply path, 104... junction, 201... fuel gas exhaust pipe (second fuel gas exhaust pipe), 2011... one end, 2012... other end, 201a...lateral extension portion, 201b...vertical extension portion, 202...second safety valve, 301...fuel gas exhaust pipe (first fuel gas exhaust pipe), 3011...one end portion, 3012...other end portion, 301a...lateral extension portion, 301b...vertical extension portion, 302...first safety valve, 105...high pressure side pressure reducing valve, 106...low pressure side pressure reducing valve, S...riding space, Wf...front wheel, Wr...rear wheel.
Claims
1. A fuel cell; a fuel tank for storing a fuel gas for the fuel cell; a fuel gas supply passage arranged to be able to supply the fuel gas stored in the fuel tank to the fuel cell; a housing portion that houses the fuel cell, the fuel tank, and the fuel gas supply path; a fuel gas discharge pipe that discharges the fuel gas from the fuel gas supply path when an abnormality occurs in the fuel gas, A fuel cell vehicle, wherein the fuel gas exhaust pipe is connected to the fuel gas supply path at one end and has the other end outside the storage portion, penetrating the storage portion from the inside to the outside, and is capable of releasing the fuel gas upward in the vertical direction of the vehicle at the other end.
2. 2. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the other end of the fuel gas discharge pipe is provided at a position at or above the height of an upper portion of the container portion.
3. 2. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the fuel gas discharge pipe has a discharge range for the fuel gas set above the storage portion.
4. a pressure reducing valve provided in the fuel gas supply passage for reducing the pressure of the fuel gas supplied from the fuel tank and allowing the fuel gas to pass therethrough, the fuel gas discharge pipe is provided at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side of the pressure reducing valve and includes a first fuel gas discharge pipe having a first safety valve interposed therein; 4. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first safety valve opens in response to a pressure increase of the fuel gas in the fuel gas supply passage to allow the fuel gas to pass.
5. a pressure reducing valve provided in the fuel gas supply passage for reducing the pressure of the fuel gas supplied from the fuel tank and allowing the fuel gas to pass therethrough, the fuel gas exhaust pipe is provided upstream of the pressure reducing valve and includes a second fuel gas exhaust pipe having a second safety valve interposed therein; 4. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second safety valve opens in response to a temperature rise in the accommodation portion that accompanies heat reception from the fuel tank, thereby allowing the fuel gas to pass through.
6. a pressure reducing valve provided in the fuel gas supply passage for reducing the pressure of the fuel gas supplied from the fuel tank and allowing the fuel gas to pass therethrough, The fuel gas exhaust pipe is an exhaust pipe with a first safety valve, which is provided on each of the upstream and downstream sides of the pressure reducing valve, and which normally prevents the passage of the fuel gas, but allows the passage of the fuel gas when the pressure of the fuel gas in the fuel gas supply path increases, and thereby discharges the fuel gas; an exhaust pipe with a second safety valve that is provided upstream of the pressure reducing valve and that normally prevents the passage of the fuel gas, but allows the passage of the fuel gas when a temperature rise in the accommodation portion accompanies heat received from the fuel tank occurs, and then discharges the fuel gas, the other end of the first safety valve-equipped discharge pipe is provided closer to the pressure reducing valve than the fuel tank, 4. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the other end of the exhaust pipe with the second safety valve is provided closer to the fuel tank than the pressure reducing valve is.
7. 4. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the other end is disposed at a distance from an outer wall surface of the accommodation portion at any one of the front, rear, left and right of the accommodation portion.
8. a pressure reducing valve provided in the fuel gas supply passage for reducing the pressure of the fuel gas supplied from the fuel tank and allowing the fuel gas to pass therethrough, The fuel gas exhaust pipe is an exhaust pipe with a first safety valve, which is provided on each of the upstream and downstream sides of the pressure reducing valve, and which normally prevents the passage of the fuel gas, but allows the passage of the fuel gas when the pressure of the fuel gas in the fuel gas supply path increases, and thereby discharges the fuel gas; an exhaust pipe with a second safety valve that is provided upstream of the pressure reducing valve and that normally prevents the passage of the fuel gas, but allows the passage of the fuel gas when a temperature rise in the accommodation portion accompanies heat received from the fuel tank occurs, and then discharges the fuel gas, 8. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 7, wherein a length dimension of the second exhaust pipe with a safety valve outside the housing portion is shorter than a length dimension of the first exhaust pipe with a safety valve outside the housing portion.
9. 9. The fuel cell vehicle according to claim 8, wherein a dimension of the second exhaust pipe with a safety valve in a height direction outside the housing portion is shorter than a dimension of the first exhaust pipe with a safety valve in a height direction outside the housing portion.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Fuel cell vehicle
JP2022107251A