Fuel supply device and power generation system

Abstract

To continuously supply a sufficient amount of a second gas (hydrogen gas) to a fuel battery unit.SOLUTION: When predefined vessel change conditions are satisfied, a control unit 19 makes water W stored in a temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10 that accommodates a canister C which supplies hydrogen gas G among temperature-adjusted liquid tanks 10 flow to a temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10 in which the amount of stored water W is below a predefined first liquid storage amount, and makes the water W stored in the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10 that accommodates a canister C to which hydrogen gas G is fed among the temperature-adjusted liquid tanks 10 flow to the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10 that accommodates the canister C which supplies the hydrogen gas G. After that, the control unit supplies water W heated by a condenser 22 and water W cooled by an evaporator 25 to defined temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel supply device configured to be capable of supplying a second gas containing hydrogen to a fuel cell unit, and to a power generation system configured to generate power by including such a fuel supply device and a fuel cell unit. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, the following patent document discloses a fuel cell configured to generate electricity by reacting outside air (oxygen) with fuel (hydrogen) in a power generation section. In this fuel cell, a hydrogen storage alloy is accommodated in a fuel tank, and hydrogen released from the hydrogen storage alloy is reacted with oxygen in the outside air to generate electricity. In this case, when hydrogen is released from the hydrogen storage alloy, the temperature of the hydrogen storage alloy (fuel tank) is lowered by an endothermic reaction. It is also known that the hydrogen release rate (amount released per unit time) of the hydrogen storage alloy is lowered by a decrease in temperature. Therefore, in order to continuously supply a sufficient amount of hydrogen required for power generation from the fuel tank to the power generation section, it is necessary to prevent the temperature of the fuel tank from decreasing and to maintain a temperature at which hydrogen can be suitably released from the hydrogen storage alloy.

[0003] Therefore, this fuel cell adopts a configuration in which the fuel tank is heated using heat generated in the power generation unit by the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to maintain a suitable temperature. Specifically, this fuel cell is configured to include a fixed heat connection member fixed to the fuel tank, an external heat dissipation unit for dissipating heat from the power generation unit to the outside, and a movable heat connection member for selectively transferring heat from the power generation unit to either the fixed heat connection member or the external heat dissipation unit. This fuel cell also adopts a configuration in which the movable heat connection member is constantly in contact with the power generation unit, and the movable heat connection member is moved by a drive unit including a shape memory alloy spring whose shape is deformed by temperature and a bias spring to bring the movable heat connection member into contact with either the fixed heat connection member or the external heat dissipation unit.

[0004] More specifically, in this fuel cell, the movable thermal connection member is moved by the driving unit to thermally connect the power generation unit and the fixed thermal connection member via the movable thermal connection member, so that heat generated in the power generation unit is transferred to the fuel tank, whereby the hydrogen storage alloy is heated and a temperature at which the required hydrogen can be released is maintained. Also, in this fuel cell, the movable thermal connection member is moved by the driving unit to thermally connect the power generation unit and the external heat dissipation unit via the movable thermal connection member, so that heat generated in the power generation unit is not transferred to the fuel tank but is released from the external heat dissipation unit, making it possible to prevent an excessive temperature rise in the fuel tank. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-080587 A (Pages 5-18, Figures 1-10C) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the fuel cell disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document has the following problems to be solved: In other words, the fuel cell disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document employs a configuration in which the heat generated in the power generation section is used to heat the fuel tank in order to avoid a decrease in the amount of hydrogen released per unit time from the fuel tank (hydrogen storage alloy) that accompanies a temperature drop caused by an endothermic reaction.

[0007] Meanwhile, the applicant has prototyped a power generation system that includes multiple hydrogen gas storage units (fuel tanks) and can supply hydrogen gas from one of the storage units to a fuel cell unit (power generation unit) that is generating electricity, while allowing hydrogen gas generated by a hydrogen gas generator to flow into one of the other storage units for storage. With this power generation system, when the remaining amount of hydrogen gas in the storage unit that supplies hydrogen gas to the fuel cell unit decreases, hydrogen gas is supplied to the fuel cell unit from the other storage unit in which hydrogen gas generated by a hydrogen gas generator is stored, instead of the storage unit with the decreased remaining amount, thereby allowing the fuel cell unit to continue generating electricity. In addition, by allowing hydrogen gas generated by the hydrogen gas generator to flow into the storage unit with the decreased remaining amount and storing it in parallel with the supply of hydrogen gas from the other storage unit, when the remaining amount in the storage unit that has newly started to supply hydrogen gas decreases, the storage unit can be switched again to continue supplying hydrogen gas.

[0008] In this case, in the power generation system prototyped by the applicant, similarly to the configuration disclosed in the above patent document, the decrease in the supply amount of hydrogen gas per unit time can be avoided by heating the storage unit that supplies hydrogen gas to the fuel cell unit. However, when hydrogen gas is flowed into the storage unit with a reduced remaining amount after the storage unit is switched as described above, the storage unit that was heated until just before the switching is at a high temperature, and the efficiency of hydrogen absorption in the hydrogen storage alloy decreases. As a result, it takes a long time to store a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas, and when the remaining amount of the storage unit that supplies hydrogen gas to the fuel cell unit decreases and it becomes necessary to switch the storage unit again, there may be a case where the storage unit that flows in the hydrogen gas generated by the hydrogen gas generating device does not store sufficient hydrogen gas. In such a case, the supply of hydrogen gas to the fuel cell unit is started from the storage unit that does not store a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas, and it becomes necessary to switch the storage unit again in a short time.

[0009] Thus, in the configuration disclosed in the above patent document, although it is possible to avoid a decrease in the amount of hydrogen gas released per unit time by heating the storage section (fuel tank), there is a problem in that hydrogen gas cannot be efficiently stored in a storage section whose remaining amount has decreased due to the supply of hydrogen gas, and as a result, it may become difficult to continuously supply hydrogen gas to the fuel cell unit.

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems to be solved, and its main object is to provide a fuel supply device and power generation system that can continuously supply a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas (second gas) to a fuel cell unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, a fuel supply device according to claim 1 is a fuel supply device configured to be capable of supplying a second gas to a fuel cell unit configured to generate electricity by reacting a first gas containing an oxidant and a second gas containing hydrogen, the fuel supply device including: a plurality of storage containers capable of storing the second gas; at least three liquid storage tanks configured to accommodate the storage containers and to store a heat transfer liquid for adjusting a temperature of the storage containers by heat exchange with the storage containers; a temperature adjustment unit having a heating unit for heating the heat transfer liquid and a cooling unit for cooling the heat transfer liquid; a heat transfer liquid supply unit for supplying the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to any of the liquid storage tanks and supplying the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to any of the other of the liquid storage tanks; and a gas flow path for causing the second gas generated by a gas generation device to flow into the storage container contained in any of the liquid storage tanks and to be stored therein, and for supplying the second gas stored in the storage container contained in the other of the liquid storage tanks to the fuel cell unit. a switching unit, and a control unit that controls temperature adjustment of the heat transfer liquid by the temperature adjustment unit, supply of the heat transfer liquid by the heat transfer liquid supply unit, and flow path switching of the second gas by the gas flow path switching unit, wherein the control unit controls a first liquid storage tank that houses the storage container that supplies the second gas among the liquid storage tanks to supply the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit, and a second liquid storage tank that houses the storage container into which the second gas flows, to supply the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit, and maintaining a state in which the amount of the heat transfer liquid stored in a third liquid storage tank, which contains a storage container to which the second gas is not supplied and to which the second gas is not flowed, below a predetermined first storage amount when the second gas is stored in the respective liquid storage tanks in an amount exceeding a predetermined first storage amount, and when a predetermined container change condition is satisfied, causing the heat transfer liquid stored in the first liquid storage tank to flow into the third liquid storage tank and causing the heat transfer liquid stored in the second liquid storage tank to flow into the first liquid storage tank,The third liquid storage tank is used as a new first liquid storage tank, and the supply of the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to the new first liquid storage tank and the supply of the second gas from the storage container contained in the new first liquid storage tank are started, the first liquid storage tank is used as a new second liquid storage tank, and the supply of the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to the new second liquid storage tank and the inflow of the second gas into the storage container contained in the new second liquid storage tank are started, and the second liquid storage tank is used as a new third liquid storage tank, and a state is maintained in which the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in the new third liquid storage tank falls below the predetermined first storage amount and the supply of the second gas and the inflow of the second gas to the storage container contained in the new third liquid storage tank are not performed.

[0012] The fuel supply device according to claim 2 is a fuel supply device configured to be capable of supplying a second gas containing an oxidant to a fuel cell unit configured to generate electricity by reacting the first gas containing an oxidant and the second gas containing hydrogen, the fuel supply device including a plurality of storage containers capable of storing the second gas, at least three liquid storage tanks configured to accommodate the storage containers and to store a heat transfer liquid that adjusts the temperature of the storage containers by heat exchange with the storage containers, a temperature adjustment unit having a heating unit that heats the heat transfer liquid and a cooling unit that cools the heat transfer liquid, and a temperature adjustment unit that adjusts the temperature of the storage containers by the heating unit. a heat transfer liquid supply unit that supplies the heat transfer liquid heated by the cooling unit to any one of the liquid storage tanks and supplies the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to any other one of the liquid storage tanks; a gas flow path switching unit that causes the second gas generated by the gas generation device to flow into the storage container contained in any one of the liquid storage tanks and be stored therein, and supplies the second gas stored in the storage container contained in the other one of the liquid storage tanks to the fuel cell unit; and and a control unit that controls the supply of the heat transfer liquid by the heat transfer liquid supply unit and the flow path switching of the second gas by the gas flow path switching unit, wherein the control unit controls the supply of the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to a liquid storage tank A that houses the storage container into which the second gas flows, the supply of the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to a liquid storage tank B that houses the storage container from which the second gas is supplied, and the control unit controls the supply of the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to a liquid storage tank B that houses the storage container from which the second gas is supplied, and controls the storage amount of the second gas in each of the liquid storage tanks to be a predetermined second storage amount. a state in which the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in the liquid storage tank C housing the storage container to which the second gas is not supplied and the second gas is not flowing in is maintained below a predetermined first storage amount when the storage amount is below a predetermined first storage amount, and when a predetermined container change condition is satisfied, the heat transfer liquid stored in the liquid storage tank A is flowed into the liquid storage tank C, and the heat transfer liquid stored in the liquid storage tank B is flowed into the liquid storage tank A, and then the liquid storage tank C is used as a new liquid storage tank A and the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit is supplied to the new liquid storage tank A;and starting the inflow of the second gas into the storage container contained in the new liquid storage tank A, and starting the supply of the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to the new liquid storage tank B using the liquid storage tank A as the new liquid storage tank B and the supply of the second gas from the storage container contained in the new liquid storage tank B, while maintaining a state in which the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in the new liquid storage tank C falls below the predetermined first storage amount and the supply of the second gas to the storage container contained in the new liquid storage tank C and the inflow of the second gas are not performed.

[0013] The fuel supply device of claim 3 is the fuel supply device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit determines that the predetermined container change condition is satisfied when the storage amount of the second gas in the storage container supplying the second gas decreases to a predetermined lower limit storage amount.

[0014] The fuel supply device of claim 4 is the fuel supply device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit determines that the predetermined container change condition is satisfied when the storage amount of the second gas in the storage container into which the second gas is flowing increases to a predetermined upper limit storage amount.

[0015] The power generation system according to the present invention is configured to include the fuel supply device according to the present invention, the fuel cell unit, and the gas generation device. Effect of the Invention

[0016] In the fuel supply device of claim 1, a control unit that controls the temperature adjustment of the heat transfer liquid by the temperature adjustment unit, the supply of the heat transfer liquid by the heat transfer liquid supply unit, and the flow path switching of the second gas by the gas flow path switching unit supplies the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to a first liquid storage tank that accommodates a storage container that supplies the second gas among the liquid storage tanks, supplies the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to a second liquid storage tank that accommodates a storage container into which the second gas is flowed among the liquid storage tanks, and maintains a state in which the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in a third liquid storage tank that accommodates a storage container into which the second gas is not supplied and into which the second gas is not flowed is less than the predetermined first storage amount when the second gas is stored in an amount that exceeds a predetermined first storage amount among the liquid storage tanks, and switches the first storage tank to the first storage tank when a predetermined container change condition is satisfied. After the heat transfer liquid stored in the liquid tank is caused to flow into the third storage tank and the heat transfer liquid stored in the second storage tank is caused to flow into the first liquid storage tank, the third storage tank is used as a new first liquid storage tank, and the supply of the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to the new first liquid storage tank and the supply of the second gas from the storage container contained in the new first liquid storage tank are started, the first liquid storage tank is used as a new second liquid storage tank, and the supply of the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to the new second liquid storage tank and the inflow of the second gas into the storage container contained in the new second liquid storage tank are started, while the second liquid storage tank is used as a new third liquid storage tank, and a state is maintained in which the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in the new third liquid storage tank falls below a predetermined first storage amount and the supply of the second gas and the inflow of the second gas to the storage container contained in the new third liquid storage tank are not performed. The power generation system according to claim 5 includes the above fuel supply device, a fuel cell unit, and a gas generation device.

[0017] Therefore, according to the fuel supply device of claim 1 and the power generation system of claim 5, when the container change condition is satisfied, the high-temperature heat transfer liquid stored in the first liquid storage tank (i.e., the liquid storage tank housing the storage container that had been supplying the second gas to the fuel cell unit until immediately before) is caused to flow into the third liquid storage tank (i.e., the liquid storage tank housing the storage container that will start supplying the second gas to the fuel cell unit), so that the storage container housed in the third liquid storage tank can be heated to release a sufficient amount of the second gas required for power generation in the fuel cell unit, without wasting the energy required to heat the heat transfer liquid supplied to the liquid storage tank serving as the first liquid storage tank. Furthermore, when the container change condition is satisfied, the low-temperature heat transfer liquid stored in the second liquid storage tank (i.e., the liquid storage tank housing the storage container into which the second gas was flowed and stored until just before) is caused to flow into the first liquid storage tank (i.e., the liquid storage tank housing the storage container into which the second gas generated by the gas generating device will begin to be stored), thereby cooling the storage container housed in the first liquid storage tank (the liquid storage tank housing the storage container which was supplying the second gas to the fuel cell unit until just before and has therefore been in a state of increased temperature due to heat exchange with the high-temperature heat transfer liquid) without wasting the energy required to cool the heat transfer liquid supplied to the second liquid storage tank, thereby enabling the second gas generated by the gas generating device to be suitably stored.Furthermore, by supplying high-temperature heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to the third liquid storage tank as a new first liquid storage tank, the second gas can be suitably released from the storage container contained in the new first liquid storage tank and supplied to the fuel cell unit, and by supplying low-temperature heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to the first liquid storage tank as a new second liquid storage tank, the second gas generated by the gas generating device can be suitably stored in the storage container contained in the new second liquid storage tank, and the second liquid storage tank can be used as a new third liquid storage tank. By maintaining a state in which the stored amount of heat transfer liquid falls below the first stored amount and no supply of the second gas or inflow of the second gas from the storage container contained in the new third liquid storage tank is performed, when the container change condition is later satisfied, the heat transfer liquid can be reliably and easily transferred from the new first liquid storage tank to the new third liquid storage tank in which no heat transfer liquid is present, and the heat transfer liquid can be reliably and easily transferred from the new second liquid storage tank to the new first liquid storage tank in which no heat transfer liquid is present due to the transfer to the new third liquid storage tank.

[0018] In the fuel supply device of claim 2, a control unit that controls the temperature adjustment of the heat transfer liquid by the temperature adjustment unit, the supply of the heat transfer liquid by the heat transfer liquid supply unit, and the flow path switching of the second gas by the gas flow path switching unit supplies the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to the liquid storage tank A that houses the storage container into which the second gas is flowed among the liquid storage tanks, and supplies the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to the liquid storage tank B that houses the storage container into which the second gas is supplied among the liquid storage tanks, and maintains a state in which the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in the liquid storage tank C that houses the storage container into which the second gas is not supplied and into which the second gas is not flowed is below a predetermined first storage amount when the storage amount of the second gas among the liquid storage tanks is below a predetermined second storage amount, and maintains a state in which the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in the liquid storage tank C that houses the storage container into which the second gas is not supplied and into which the second gas is not flowed is below a predetermined first storage amount, and maintains a state in which the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in the liquid storage tank C that houses the storage container into which the second gas is not supplied and the second gas is not flowed is below a predetermined first storage amount when a predetermined container change condition is satisfied. When the first storage amount is reached, the heat transfer liquid stored in the liquid storage tank A is caused to flow into the liquid storage tank C, and the heat transfer liquid stored in the liquid storage tank B is caused to flow into the liquid storage tank A, and then the liquid storage tank C is set as a new liquid storage tank A, and the supply of the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to the new liquid storage tank A and the inflow of the second gas into the storage container accommodated in the new liquid storage tank A are started, the liquid storage tank A is set as a new liquid storage tank B, and the supply of the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to the new liquid storage tank B and the supply of the second gas from the storage container accommodated in the new liquid storage tank B are started, and the liquid storage tank B is set as a new liquid storage tank C, and a state is maintained in which the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in the new liquid storage tank C falls below the previously specified first storage amount and the supply of the second gas and the inflow of the second gas into the storage container accommodated in the new liquid storage tank C are not performed. The power generation system according to claim 5 is configured to include the above fuel supply device, the fuel cell unit, and the gas generation device.

[0019] Therefore, according to the fuel supply device of claim 2 and the power generation system of claim 5, when the container change condition is satisfied, the low-temperature heat transfer liquid stored in the liquid storage tank A (i.e., the liquid storage tank housing the storage container into which the second gas was flowed and stored until immediately before) is caused to flow into the liquid storage tank C (i.e., the liquid storage tank housing the storage container into which the second gas generated by the gas generating device will begin to store), thereby cooling the storage container housed in the liquid storage tank C and suitably storing the second gas generated by the gas generating device without wasting the energy required to cool the heat transfer liquid supplied to the liquid storage tank A. Furthermore, when the container change condition is satisfied, the high-temperature heat transfer liquid stored in the heat transfer liquid stored in the liquid storage tank B (i.e., the liquid storage tank housing the storage container that had been supplying the second gas to the fuel cell unit until just before) is caused to flow into the liquid storage tank A (i.e., the liquid storage tank housing the storage container that will start supplying the second gas to the fuel cell unit), so that the storage container housed in the liquid storage tank A (the liquid storage tank housing the storage container that has been flowing in and storing the second gas until just before and has therefore been in a state of temperature drop due to heat exchange with the low-temperature heat transfer liquid) can be heated and a sufficient amount of the second gas required for power generation in the fuel cell unit can be released without wasting the energy required to heat the heat transfer liquid supplied to the liquid storage tank as the liquid storage tank B.Furthermore, by supplying low-temperature heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to the liquid storage tank C as the new liquid storage tank A, the second gas generated by the gas generating device can be suitably stored in the storage container accommodated in the new liquid storage tank A. By supplying high-temperature heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to the liquid storage tank A as the new liquid storage tank B, the second gas can be suitably released from the storage container accommodated in the new liquid storage tank B and supplied to the fuel cell unit. By maintaining the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid as the new liquid storage tank B as the new liquid storage tank C, where the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid is below the first storage amount and where no supply of the second gas or inflow of the second gas is performed from the storage container accommodated in the new liquid storage tank C, later, when the container change condition is satisfied, the heat transfer liquid can be reliably and easily transferred from the new liquid storage tank A to the new liquid storage tank C in which no heat transfer liquid is present. Furthermore, the heat transfer liquid can be reliably and easily transferred from the new liquid storage tank B to the new liquid storage tank A in which no heat transfer liquid is present due to the transfer to the new liquid storage tank C.

[0020] In the fuel supply device described in claim 3, the control unit determines that the predetermined container change condition is satisfied when the amount of the second gas stored in the storage container to which the second gas is being supplied has decreased to a predetermined lower limit storage amount. Therefore, according to the fuel supply device described in claim 3 and the power generation system including such a fuel supply device, the second gas can be continuously supplied to the fuel cell unit from a storage container contained in a new first liquid storage tank, instead of the storage container in which the amount of the second gas stored has decreased to the predetermined lower limit storage amount. This ensures that power generation by the fuel cell unit can be continued.

[0021] In the fuel supply device according to claim 4, the control unit determines that the predetermined container change condition is satisfied when the amount of the second gas in the storage container into which the second gas is flowing increases to a predetermined upper limit storage amount. Therefore, according to the fuel supply device according to claim 4 and the power generation system including such a fuel supply device, by starting to store the second gas in a storage container contained in a new second liquid storage tank instead of the storage container in which the amount of the second gas in the storage container has increased to the predetermined upper limit storage amount, it is possible to continue storage in any storage container (the storage container contained in the new second liquid storage tank) without stopping the generation of the second gas by the gas generating device. In addition, by changing the storage container that supplies the second gas to the fuel cell unit at the time when such a condition is satisfied, the supply of the second gas from the storage container that supplied the second gas before the change is terminated in a state in which the amount of the second gas in the storage container that supplied the second gas before the change is greater than the lower limit storage amount, so that when storage of the second gas in the storage container is started later, it is possible to store the second gas up to the upper limit storage amount in a short time. Therefore, even if the consumption of the second gas per unit time in the fuel cell unit increases, the second gas required for power generation can be reliably supplied from a storage container in which a sufficient amount of the second gas is stored. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a power generation system 100. FIG. [Diagram 2] 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the hydrogen gas supply device 1 (heating and cooling of the canister C in each temperature adjustment liquid tank 10). FIG. [Diagram 3] 4 is another explanatory diagram of the operation of the hydrogen gas supply device 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is yet another explanatory diagram of the operation of the hydrogen gas supply device 1. FIG. [Diagram 5] 10 is yet another explanatory diagram of the operation of the hydrogen gas supply device 1. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is yet another explanatory diagram of the operation of the hydrogen gas supply device 1. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is yet another explanatory diagram of the operation of the hydrogen gas supply device 1. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is yet another explanatory diagram of the operation of the hydrogen gas supply device 1. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is yet another explanatory diagram of the operation of the hydrogen gas supply device 1. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is yet another explanatory diagram of the operation of the hydrogen gas supply device 1. FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is yet another explanatory diagram of the operation of the hydrogen gas supply device 1. FIG. [Figure 12] 10 is yet another explanatory diagram of the operation of the hydrogen gas supply device 1. FIG. [Figure 13] 10 is yet another explanatory diagram of the operation of the hydrogen gas supply device 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a fuel supply device and a power generation system will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] The power generation system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a "power generation system" and includes a hydrogen gas supply device 1, a fuel cell unit 2, and a hydrogen gas generator 3, and is configured to generate electricity by reacting air, which is an example of a "first gas containing an oxidant," with hydrogen gas G, which is an example of a "second gas containing hydrogen," in the fuel cell unit 2.

[0025] The hydrogen gas supply device 1 is an example of a "fuel supply device" and is configured to be able to supply hydrogen gas G stored in a canister C to a fuel cell unit 2, and to store hydrogen gas G generated by a hydrogen gas generation device 3 in the canister C. Specifically, the hydrogen gas supply device 1 includes temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10a-10c, a heat pump 11, pumps 12h, 12c, on-off valves 13a-13c, 14a-14c, 15a-15c, 16a-16c, 17a-17c, 18a-18c, and a control unit 19.

[0026] Temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10a-10c (hereinafter, also referred to as "temperature adjustment liquid tank 10" when no distinction is made) are an example of "at least three liquid storage tanks" and are configured to be able to accommodate canisters C, C, etc., and are configured to be able to store water W (an example of a "heat transfer liquid") that adjusts the temperature of the canisters C by heat exchange with the accommodated canisters C. In this case, the canisters C are an example of "multiple storage containers capable of storing a second gas", and are configured to accommodate a hydrogen storage alloy in a pressure vessel similar to the fuel tank disclosed in the aforementioned patent document, and are configured to allow hydrogen gas G flowing into the pressure vessel to be stored in the hydrogen storage alloy, and to allow the hydrogen gas G stored in the hydrogen storage alloy to be released outside the pressure vessel.

[0027] The heat pump 11 is an example of a "temperature adjustment unit" and is configured to include a compressor 21, a condenser 22, a radiator 23, a fan 23a, an expansion valve 24, and an evaporator 25, and is configured to adjust the temperature of the water W. In this case, in the hydrogen gas supply device 1 of this example, the condenser 22 corresponds to a "heating unit that heats the heat transfer liquid" and heats the water W by heat exchange with the refrigerant, and the evaporator 25 corresponds to a "cooling unit that cools the heat transfer liquid" and cools the water W by heat exchange with the refrigerant. In the following description, the water W heated by the condenser 22 is also referred to as "water Wh", and the water W cooled by the evaporator 25 is also referred to as "water Wc".

[0028] The pumps 12h and 12c are, for example, suction-type liquid transfer pumps, and together with the on-off valves 13a to 13c, 14a to 14c, 15a to 15c, and 16a to 16c, constitute a "heat transfer liquid supply unit." In this case, the hydrogen gas supply device 1 of this example employs a configuration in which the pump 12h draws in water Wh that has been heated in the condenser 22 and used to heat the canister C in one of the temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10, and pumps it to the condenser 22, and the pump 12c draws in water Wc that has been cooled in the evaporator 25 and used to heat the canister C in one of the other temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10, and pumps it to the evaporator 25.

[0029] The on-off valves 13a-13c and 14a-14c, under the control of the control unit 19, allow the supply of water Wh to any one of the temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10 and the discharge of the water Wh supplied to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 from the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 (suction by pump 12h). The on-off valves 15a-15c and 16a-16c, under the control of the control unit 19, allow the supply of water Wc to any other one of the temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10 and the discharge of the water Wc supplied to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 from the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 (suction by pump 12c). The on-off valves 17a to 17c, 18a to 18c are an example of a "gas flow path switching section", and the on-off valves 17a to 17c allow the flow of hydrogen gas G into a canister C contained in any of the temperature regulating liquid tanks 10, while the on-off valves 18a to 18c allow the release of hydrogen gas G (to supply to the fuel cell unit 2) from a canister C contained in any of the other temperature regulating liquid tanks 10.

[0030] The control unit 19 is an example of a "control unit" and controls the hydrogen gas supplying device 1 overall. Specifically, the control unit 19 controls the heat pump 11 to adjust the temperature of the water W (control of "temperature adjustment of heat transfer liquid by the temperature adjustment unit"). The control unit 19 also controls the pumps 12h, 12c and the on-off valves 13a-13c, 14a-14c, 15a-15c, 16a-16c to supply water Wh to any one of the temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10 and supply water Wc to any other one of the temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10 (control of "supply of heat transfer liquid by the heat transfer liquid supply unit"). Furthermore, the control unit 19 controls the on-off valves 17a-17c, 18a-18c to allow the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 to flow into and be stored in the canister C contained in any of the temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10, and to supply the hydrogen gas G stored in the canister C contained in any of the other temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10 to the fuel cell unit 2 (control of "switching of the flow path of the second gas by the gas flow path switching unit"). The control of each part by the control unit 19 will be described in detail later.

[0031] On the other hand, the fuel cell unit 2 is an example of a "fuel cell unit" and is configured to include a fuel cell main body in which a plurality of power generation cells and a plurality of cooling cells are stacked, and a pump (neither of which is shown) that supplies air (first gas) to the power generation cells. This fuel cell unit 2 is configured to generate power by reacting air (oxygen) with hydrogen gas G (hydrogen) in the fuel cell main body. Since the principle of power generation by the fuel cell unit 2 is well known, a detailed description of the configuration of this fuel cell unit 2 will be omitted. Also, the hydrogen gas generation device 3 is an example of a "gas generation device" and is configured to generate hydrogen by electrolyzing water and supply the generated hydrogen (hydrogen gas G) to the hydrogen gas supply device 1. Since the principle of hydrogen generation by electrolysis is well known, a detailed description of the configuration of this hydrogen gas generation device 3 will be omitted.

[0032] Next, power generation by the power generation system 100 will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] When power generation by the power generation system 100 is started, a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G (an amount that can be supplied to the fuel cell unit 2) is stored in the canister C contained in at least one of the temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10a to 10c. Here, as an example, it is assumed that a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G was stored in each of the canisters C contained in the temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10a and 10c during a previous operation performed in the same manner as in the operation example described below, and the remaining amount of hydrogen gas G in the canister C contained in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b has decreased (to an amount that makes it difficult to supply to the fuel cell unit 2).

[0034] In this state, when power generation in the fuel cell unit 2 is started, the control unit 19 first switches the on-off valve 18a to an open state while maintaining the on-off valves 18b and 18c in a closed state. At this time, the hydrogen gas G stored in the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a is released from the canister C, passes through the on-off valve 18a, and is supplied to the power generation cell of the fuel cell unit 2. In the fuel cell unit 2, the hydrogen gas G supplied from the hydrogen gas supply device 1 (the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a) and the air pressure-fed by the pump are reacted in the power generation cell. As a result, the power generated by the fuel cell unit 2 is supplied to a load (such as an electrical appliance or a storage battery) (not shown).

[0035] In addition, in the power generation system 100 of this example, a configuration is adopted in which hydrogen gas G is supplied from the hydrogen gas supply device 1 to the fuel cell unit 2 and hydrogen gas G is generated in the fuel cell unit 2, and hydrogen gas G is supplied from the hydrogen gas generation device 3 to the hydrogen gas supply device 1, and hydrogen gas G is stored in the canister C in which the remaining amount is reduced in the hydrogen gas supply device 1 in parallel with the above-mentioned supply of hydrogen gas G from the hydrogen gas supply device 1 to the fuel cell unit 2. Specifically, in this example in which the remaining amount of the canister C contained in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b is reduced, the control unit 19 causes the on-off valves 17a and 17c to remain closed, while shifting the on-off valve 17b to an open state. At this time, the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generation device 3 passes through the on-off valve 17b and flows into the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b, and is absorbed in the hydrogen storage alloy in the canister C. As a result, hydrogen gas G is stored in the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b.

[0036] At this time, in order to avoid a decrease in the amount of hydrogen gas G released per unit time from the canister C contained in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a (the amount supplied to the fuel cell unit 2), the control unit 19 supplies water Wh heated by the heat pump 11 (condenser 22) to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a (an example of control of "supplying heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to the first liquid storage tank that contains the storage container that supplies the second gas among the liquid storage tanks"), thereby heating the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a by heat exchange with the water Wh. In addition, in order to avoid a decrease in the amount of hydrogen gas G stored per unit time in the canister C contained in the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10b (the amount of hydrogen gas G stored per unit time generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3), the control unit 19 supplies water Wc cooled by the heat pump 11 (evaporator 25) to the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10b (an example of control of "supplying heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to the second liquid storage tank that contains a storage container into which the second gas is flowed among the liquid storage tanks"), thereby cooling the canister C in the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10b by heat exchange with the water Wc.

[0037] Specifically, the control unit 19 operates the pumps 12h and 12c while the heat pump 11 is heating and cooling the water W as described above, and also switches the on-off valves 13a and 14a to an open state, switches the on-off valves 13b, 13c, 14b, and 14c to a closed state, switches the on-off valves 15b and 16b to an open state, and switches the on-off valves 15a, 15c, 16a, and 16c to a closed state, as shown in Fig. 2. In this figure and Figs. 3 to 13, the on-off valves 13 to 16 controlled to an open state are shown filled in white, and the on-off valves 13 to 16 controlled to a closed state are shown filled in black, and the pipes through which the water Wh and Wc pass are shown by solid lines, and the pipes through which the water Wh and Wc do not pass are shown by dashed lines.

[0038] As a result, the water Wh heated in the condenser 22 passes through the on-off valve 13a and is supplied to the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a, where the canister C is heated by heat exchange with the water Wh in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a, and the water Wh whose temperature has been reduced by heat exchange with the canister C passes through the on-off valve 14a and is drawn into the pump 12h to be heated again in the condenser 22. Also, the water Wc cooled in the evaporator 25 passes through the on-off valve 15b and is supplied to the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b, where the canister C is cooled by heat exchange with the water Wc in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b, and the water Wc whose temperature has increased by heat exchange with the canister C passes through the on-off valve 16b and is drawn into the pump 12c to be cooled again in the evaporator 25.

[0039] Furthermore, water W is not flowed into the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c, and a state in which no water W is stored is maintained (an example of control in which "a state in which the amount of heat transfer liquid stored in a third liquid storage tank containing a storage container to which no second gas is supplied and no second gas is flowed in is maintained below the predetermined first storage amount when the second gas is stored in excess of a predetermined first storage amount in each liquid storage tank").

[0040] By continuing this state, a state in which a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G is released from the canister C contained in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a is maintained, and the amount of hydrogen gas G necessary for power generation is continuously supplied to the fuel cell unit 2. In addition, a state in which the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generation device 3 is suitably absorbed in the hydrogen storage alloy in the canister C contained in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b is maintained, and a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G is stored in this canister C in a short period of time.

[0041] On the other hand, as power generation by the fuel cell unit 2 continues, the remaining amount of the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a decreases due to the supply of hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2, and it becomes difficult to release a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G required for power generation even if the canister C is heated by heat exchange with water Wh. Also, as the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 continues to be stored, the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b reaches a sufficient amount of stored hydrogen gas G, and it becomes difficult to cause the hydrogen storage alloy to absorb the hydrogen gas G even if the canister C is cooled by heat exchange with water Wc.

[0042] In this case, whether the timing at which the storage amount (remaining amount) of hydrogen gas G stored in the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a decreases to an amount at which suitable release is difficult (for example, a storage amount of 15% of the storable amount for the canister C: an example of a "predetermined lower limit storage amount") or the timing at which the storage amount of hydrogen gas G stored in the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b (the filling amount of hydrogen gas G) increases to a predetermined storage amount (for example, a storage amount of 100% of the storable amount for the canister C: an example of a "predetermined upper limit storage amount") occurs earlier is determined by the amount of power generation in the fuel cell unit 2 (the amount of hydrogen gas G consumed per unit time) and the amount of hydrogen gas G produced per unit time in the hydrogen gas generator 3, and therefore differs depending on the usage environment and operating mode of the power generation system 100.

[0043] Here, if the amount of hydrogen gas G stored in the canister C that supplies hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2 is reduced to the lower limit storage amount and operation is continued while maintaining this state, the supply of hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2 will stop and power generation in the fuel cell unit 2 will stop. Also, even if the amount of hydrogen gas G stored in the canister C that stores the hydrogen gas G generated in the hydrogen gas generation device 3 is increased to the upper limit storage amount and operation is continued while maintaining this state, no more hydrogen gas G can be stored in the canister C. Therefore, it is preferable to start storing hydrogen gas G in another canister C that can store hydrogen gas G (a canister C that has an amount of hydrogen gas G stored that is less than the upper limit storage amount) instead of the canister C that has reached the upper limit storage amount.

[0044] Therefore, in the hydrogen gas supply device 1 (power generation system 100) of this example, when either of the conditions is satisfied: when the storage amount of hydrogen gas G in the canister C that supplies hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2 has decreased to a lower limit storage amount, or when the storage amount of hydrogen gas G in the canister C that stores the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generating device 3 has increased to an upper limit storage amount (an example of a state in which the "container change condition is satisfied"), the control unit 19 executes control to change both the canister C that releases the hydrogen gas G to be supplied to the fuel cell unit 2, and the canister C into which the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generating device 3 flows.

[0045] Specifically, the control unit 19 causes the on-off valve 18b to remain in a closed state, shifts the on-off valve 18a to a closed state, and shifts the on-off valve 18c to an open state. At this time, instead of the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a, hydrogen gas G is released from the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10c, passes through the on-off valve 18c, and is supplied to the power generation cell of the fuel cell unit 2. This allows power generation to continue in the fuel cell unit 2. In addition, the control unit 19 causes the on-off valve 17c to remain in a closed state, shifts the on-off valve 17b to a closed state, and shifts the on-off valve 17a to an open state. At this time, instead of the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b, hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 passes through the on-off valve 17a and flows into the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a, and is stored in this canister C. This allows the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 to continue being stored in the canister C.

[0046] In addition, the control unit 19 changes the flow path of the water W in conjunction with the change in the flow path of the hydrogen gas G as described above. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 19 first maintains the on-off valve 14a in an open state and the on-off valves 14b and 14c in a closed state, and then, while maintaining the on-off valve 13b in a closed state, shifts the on-off valve 13a to a closed state and shifts the on-off valve 13c to an open state. At this time, the water Wh stored in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a passes through the on-off valve 14a, the pump 12h, the condenser 22, and the on-off valve 13c in this order and flows into the temperature regulating liquid tank 10c (an example of control in which "the heat transfer liquid stored in the first storage tank flows into the third storage tank"). As a result, the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10c is heated by heat exchange with the water Wh moved from the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a to the temperature regulating liquid tank 10c, and it is possible to avoid a decrease in the amount of hydrogen gas G released per unit time.

[0047] 4, in a state where the on-off valves 13a and 13b are maintained in a closed state and the on-off valve 13c is maintained in an open state, the control unit 19 causes the on-off valve 14a to transition to a closed state while maintaining the on-off valve 14b in a closed state, and causes the on-off valve 14c to transition to an open state. At this time, the water Wh heated in the condenser 22 passes through the on-off valve 13c and is supplied to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c, and the canister C is heated by heat exchange with the water Wh in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c, and the water Wh whose temperature has been reduced by heat exchange with the canister C passes through the on-off valve 14c and is drawn into the pump 12h and heated again in the condenser 22. As a result, the amount of hydrogen gas G discharged per unit time from the canister C contained in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c is maintained, and a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G required for power generation is continuously supplied to the fuel cell unit 2 (an example of an operation of "starting the supply of the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to the new first liquid storage tank using the third liquid storage tank as a new first liquid storage tank, and starting the supply of the second gas from the storage container contained in the new first liquid storage tank").

[0048] Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 19, in a state where the on-off valve 16b is maintained in an open state and the on-off valves 16a and 16c are maintained in a closed state, shifts the on-off valve 15b to a closed state and shifts the on-off valve 15a to an open state while maintaining the on-off valve 15c in a closed state. At this time, the water Wc stored in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b passes through the on-off valve 16b, the pump 12c, the evaporator 25, and the on-off valve 15a in this order and flows into the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a (an example of control of "flowing the heat transfer liquid stored in the second storage tank into the first storage tank"). As a result, the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a is cooled by heat exchange with the water Wc moved from the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b to the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a, and it is possible to avoid a decrease in the amount of hydrogen gas G stored per unit time (the amount of hydrogen gas stored in the hydrogen storage alloy).

[0049] 6, in a state where the on-off valves 15b and 15c are maintained in a closed state and the on-off valve 15a is maintained in an open state, the control unit 19 causes the on-off valve 16a to be opened and the on-off valve 16b to be closed while maintaining the on-off valve 16c in a closed state. At this time, the water Wc cooled in the evaporator 25 passes through the on-off valve 15a and is supplied to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a, and the canister C is cooled by heat exchange with the water Wc in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a, and the water Wc whose temperature has increased by heat exchange with the canister C passes through the on-off valve 16a and is sucked into the pump 12c and cooled again in the evaporator 25. As a result, the amount of hydrogen gas G stored per unit time in the canister C contained in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a (the amount of hydrogen gas absorbed in the hydrogen storage alloy) is maintained, and the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generation device 3 is continuously stored in the canister C (one example of an operation of "starting the supply of the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to the new second liquid storage tank using the first liquid storage tank as a new second liquid storage tank, and starting the flow of the second gas into the storage container contained in the new second liquid storage tank").

[0050] 6, in the state where the flow paths of the water Wh and Wc are switched, the water Wc is moved to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a so that the water Wc is not present in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b, which contains the canister C filled with hydrogen gas G from the hydrogen gas generator 3 (exceeding the "first storage amount") before the switching of the flow paths, and new water Wc or water Wh does not flow in, and this state is maintained (one example of the operation of "maintaining a state in which the second storage tank is used as a new third storage tank, the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in the new third storage tank falls below the first storage amount that has been specified in advance, and the second gas is not supplied to or flows in to the storage container contained in the new third storage tank"). With the above, the switching of the flow path of the water W is completed.

[0051] In this case, when the canister C supplying hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2 is reduced to the lower limit storage amount, if the "container change condition" is satisfied and the flow path of hydrogen gas G and the flow path of water W are switched as described above, the storage of hydrogen gas G in the canister C storing the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generating device 3 is terminated in the state where the amount of hydrogen gas G in the canister C has not increased to the upper limit storage amount. Therefore, when the supply of hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2 from the canister C with such a storage amount is started later, the remaining amount of hydrogen gas G will decrease to the lower limit storage amount in a short time. However, when it is necessary to continue the power generation by the fuel cell unit 2, the hydrogen gas G required for power generation can be continuously supplied from the hydrogen gas supply device 1 to the fuel cell unit 2 by supplying hydrogen gas G from another canister C in place of the canister C whose storage amount has decreased to the lower limit storage amount, and it is possible to immediately start storing the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generating device 3 in the canister C whose storage amount has decreased to the lower limit storage amount by supplying hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2.

[0052] In addition, when the canister C storing the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generating device 3 increases to the upper limit storage amount, if the "container change condition" is satisfied and the flow path of the hydrogen gas G and the flow path of the water W are switched as described above, the supply of hydrogen gas G from the canister C to the fuel cell unit 2 will be terminated in a state in which the canister C supplying the hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2 has not decreased to the lower limit storage amount. Therefore, when the storage of hydrogen gas G in the canister C with such a storage amount is started later, the storage amount of the canister C will increase to the upper limit storage amount in a short time. As a result, even if the consumption of hydrogen gas G in the fuel cell unit 2 becomes high and it becomes necessary to switch the flow path of the hydrogen gas G and the flow path of the water W at a short period, it is possible to supply hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2 from the canister C that has increased to the upper limit storage amount, and it is possible to preferably avoid a situation in which the period of switching the flow path of the hydrogen gas G and the flow path of the water W becomes excessively short.

[0053] On the other hand, when the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c decreases to the lower limit storage amount or the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a increases to the upper limit storage amount by continuing power generation by the fuel cell unit 2 and storage of the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 (another example of a state in which the "container change condition is satisfied"), the control unit 19 again switches the flow path of the hydrogen gas G and the flow path of the water W.

[0054] Specifically, the control unit 19 causes the on-off valve 18a to remain in a closed state, shifts the on-off valve 18c to a closed state, and shifts the on-off valve 18b to an open state. At this time, instead of the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10c, hydrogen gas G is released from the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b, passes through the on-off valve 18b, and is supplied to the power generation cell of the fuel cell unit 2. This allows power generation to continue in the fuel cell unit 2. In addition, the control unit 19 causes the on-off valve 17b to remain in a closed state, shifts the on-off valve 17a to a closed state, and shifts the on-off valve 17c to an open state. At this time, instead of the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a, hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 passes through the on-off valve 17c and flows into the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10c, and is stored in this canister C. This allows the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 to continue being stored in the canister C.

[0055] 7, the control unit 19, in a state where the on-off valve 14c is maintained in an open state and the on-off valves 14a and 14b are maintained in a closed state, shifts the on-off valve 13c to a closed state and shifts the on-off valve 13b to an open state while maintaining the on-off valve 13a in a closed state. At this time, the water Wh stored in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10c passes through the on-off valve 14c, the pump 12h, the condenser 22, and the on-off valve 13b in this order and flows into the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b (another example of the control of "flowing the heat transfer liquid stored in the first liquid storage tank into the third liquid storage tank"). As a result, the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b is heated by heat exchange with the water Wh moved from the temperature regulating liquid tank 10c to the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b, and it is possible to avoid a decrease in the amount of hydrogen gas G released per unit time.

[0056] 8, in a state in which the on-off valves 13a and 13c are maintained in a closed state and the on-off valve 13b is maintained in an open state, the control unit 19 causes the on-off valve 14c to transition to a closed state while maintaining the on-off valve 14a in a closed state, and causes the on-off valve 14b to transition to an open state. At this time, the water Wh heated in the condenser 22 passes through the on-off valve 13b and is supplied to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b, and the canister C is heated by heat exchange with the water Wh in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b, and the water Wh whose temperature has been reduced by heat exchange with the canister C passes through the on-off valve 14b and is drawn into the pump 12h and heated again in the condenser 22. As a result, the amount of hydrogen gas G discharged per unit time from the canister C contained in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b is maintained, and a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G required for power generation is continuously supplied to the fuel cell unit 2 (another example of the operation of "starting the supply of the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to the new first liquid storage tank using the third liquid storage tank as a new first liquid storage tank, and starting the supply of the second gas from the storage container contained in the new first liquid storage tank").

[0057] Next, as shown in Fig. 9, the control unit 19, in a state where the on-off valve 16a is maintained in an open state and the on-off valves 16b and 16c are maintained in a closed state, shifts the on-off valve 15a to a closed state and shifts the on-off valve 15c to an open state while maintaining the on-off valve 15b in a closed state. At this time, the water Wc stored in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a passes through the on-off valve 16a, the pump 12c, the evaporator 25, and the on-off valve 15c in this order and flows into the temperature regulating liquid tank 10c (another example of the control of "flowing the heat transfer liquid stored in the second liquid storage tank into the first liquid storage tank"). As a result, the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10c is cooled by heat exchange with the water Wc moved from the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a to the temperature regulating liquid tank 10c, and it is possible to avoid a decrease in the amount of hydrogen gas G stored per unit time (the amount of hydrogen gas stored in the hydrogen storage alloy).

[0058] 10, in a state where the on-off valves 15a and 15b are maintained in a closed state and the on-off valve 15c is maintained in an open state, the control unit 19 causes the on-off valve 16c to be opened and the on-off valve 16a to be closed while maintaining the on-off valve 16b in a closed state. At this time, the water Wc cooled in the evaporator 25 passes through the on-off valve 15c and is supplied to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c, and the canister C is cooled by heat exchange with the water Wc in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c, and the water Wc whose temperature has increased by heat exchange with the canister C passes through the on-off valve 16c and is sucked into the pump 12c and cooled again in the evaporator 25. As a result, the amount of hydrogen gas G stored per unit time in the canister C contained in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c (the amount of hydrogen gas absorbed in the hydrogen storage alloy) is maintained, and the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generation device 3 is continuously stored in the canister C (another example of the operation of "starting the supply of the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to the new second liquid storage tank using the first liquid storage tank as a new second liquid storage tank, and starting the flow of the second gas into the storage container contained in the new second liquid storage tank").

[0059] 10, in the state where the flow paths of the water Wh and Wc are switched, the water Wc is not present in the temperature-adjusting liquid tank 10a, which accommodates the canister C filled with hydrogen gas G from the hydrogen gas generator 3 before the switching of the flow paths, due to the movement of the water Wc to the temperature-adjusting liquid tank 10c, and no new water Wc or water Wh flows in, and this state is maintained (another example of the operation of "maintaining a state in which the second liquid storage tank is used as a new third liquid storage tank, the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in the new third liquid storage tank falls below the predetermined first storage amount, and the second gas is not supplied to or flows in to the storage container accommodated in the new third liquid storage tank"). With the above, the switching of the flow path of the water W is completed.

[0060] Thereafter, when the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b decreases to the lower limit storage amount, or when the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c increases to the upper limit storage amount (another example of the state in which the "container change condition is satisfied"), the control unit 19 again switches the flow path of the hydrogen gas G and the flow path of the water W. This allows the fuel cell unit 2 to continue generating electricity using the hydrogen gas G, and the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 to continue being stored.

[0061] In this case, although the configuration is different from that of the hydrogen gas supply device 1 of this example, for example, when attempting to supply hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2 and store the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 in parallel by using two temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10a, 10b without including the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c, heated water Wh will be supplied to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 containing the canister C in which the hydrogen gas G to be supplied is stored to heat the canister C, and cooled water Wc will be supplied to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 containing the canister C into which the stored hydrogen gas G flows to cool the canister C. In addition, in such a configuration, when the hydrogen gas G in the canister C from which hydrogen gas G is being released decreases to the lower limit storage amount, or when the hydrogen gas G in the canister C into which hydrogen gas G is flowing increases to the upper limit storage amount, it is necessary to switch the flow path to supply water Wc to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 that was supplying water Wh, and to supply water Wh to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 that was supplying water Wc, in order to flow hydrogen gas G into the canister C whose storage amount has decreased to the lower limit and to release hydrogen gas G from the canister C whose storage amount has increased to the upper limit storage amount.

[0062] However, since the low-temperature water Wc is stored in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 that was supplying the water Wc until the flow path was switched, and the canister C is at a low temperature due to heat exchange with the water Wc, even if the supply of water Wh is started by switching, it takes a certain amount of time for the temperature of the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 to rise sufficiently. This makes it difficult to supply (release from the hydrogen storage alloy) the entire amount of hydrogen gas G that should be supplied to the fuel cell unit 2 (required in the fuel cell unit 2) from the canister C. Therefore, with a configuration having only two temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10, it is difficult to continuously supply the required amount of hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2.

[0063] Similarly, since high-temperature water Wh is stored in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 that was supplying water Wh until the flow path was switched, and the canister C is at a high temperature due to heat exchange with the water Wh, even if the supply of water Wc is started by switching, it takes a certain amount of time for the temperature of the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 to sufficiently drop. This makes it difficult to store the entire amount of hydrogen gas G successively generated by the hydrogen gas generation device 3 in the canister C (to have it absorbed in the hydrogen storage alloy). Therefore, with a configuration having only two temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10, it is difficult to continuously generate hydrogen gas G by the hydrogen gas generation device 3 and store the generated hydrogen gas G in the canister C.

[0064] In contrast, in the hydrogen gas supply device 1 of this example equipped with three temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10a-10c, when changing the canister C that supplies hydrogen gas G and the canister C that stores hydrogen gas G, water Wh is flowed into the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 in which the amount of water W stored is the "first amount of water W (in this example, a state in which water W is not present)," and water Wc is flowed into the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 in which no water W is stored, so that high-temperature water Wh and low-temperature water Wc do not mix. As a result, the temperature of the canister C to be heated can be raised in a short time, making it possible to continuously supply the required amount of hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2, and the temperature of the canister C to be cooled can be lowered in a short time, making it possible to continuously store the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generation device 3 in the canister C.

[0065] On the other hand, an example of operation has been described in which power generation by the fuel cell unit 2 (supply of hydrogen gas G from the hydrogen gas supply device 1 to the fuel cell unit 2) and storage of the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 in the canister C are performed in parallel. However, in the power generation system 100 (hydrogen gas supply device 1) of this example, when power generation by the fuel cell unit 2 is not being performed, the power generation system 100 is configured to be able to solely store the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 in the canister C.

[0066] In this case, when it is not necessary to supply hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2, it is not necessary to heat the water W by the condenser 22 and to supply the heated water Wh to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 (heating the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10). Therefore, when only storing the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generation device 3 in the canister C, instead of heating the water W in the condenser 22, the fan 23a is operated to radiate heat from the radiator 23 to the atmosphere, thereby making it possible to suitably circulate the refrigerant required to cool the water W in the evaporator 25 in the heat pump 11. As a result, even in a state in which hydrogen gas G is not being supplied from the hydrogen gas supply device 1 to the fuel cell unit 2, the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generation device 3 can be stored in the canister C in any of the temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10.

[0067] In this manner, in the hydrogen gas supply device 1, the control unit 19 controls the temperature adjustment of the water W by the heat pump 11, the supply of the water W by the pumps 12h, 12c and the on-off valves 13-16, and the switching of the flow path of the hydrogen gas G by the on-off valves 17, 18, so as to supply the water Wh heated by the condenser 22 to the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 (first liquid storage tank) in which the canister C supplying the hydrogen gas G is accommodated among the temperature regulating liquid tanks 10, and to supply the water Wh heated by the condenser 22 to the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 in which the canister C in which the hydrogen gas G is flowed is accommodated among the temperature regulating liquid tanks 10. The water Wc cooled by the evaporator 25 is supplied to the tank 10 (second storage tank), and the amount of water W stored in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 (third storage tank) containing the canister C to which hydrogen gas G is not supplied or flowed in is maintained below the first storage amount specified in advance when hydrogen gas G is stored in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 (third storage tank) in a state in which hydrogen gas G exceeds a first storage amount specified in advance in each temperature regulating liquid tank 10, and when a predetermined "container change condition" is satisfied, the water W stored in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 as the "first storage tank" is maintained. The water W stored in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 as the "second liquid storage tank" is flowed into the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 as the "first liquid storage tank", and the water W stored in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 as the "third liquid storage tank" is flowed into the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 as the "first liquid storage tank". Then, the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 as the "third liquid storage tank" is changed to a "new first liquid storage tank", and the supply of the water W heated by the condenser 22 to the "new first liquid storage tank" and the supply of the hydrogen gas G from the canister C contained in the "new first liquid storage tank" are started, and the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 as the "first liquid storage tank" is changed to a "new second liquid storage tank". The supply of water W cooled by evaporator 25 as a "new second storage tank" to the "new second storage tank" and the inflow of hydrogen gas G to the canister C contained in the "new second storage tank" are started, and the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 as a "second storage tank" is used as a "new third storage tank" to maintain a state in which the storage amount of water W in the "new third storage tank" falls below a predetermined "first storage amount" and hydrogen gas G is not supplied to or inflow into the canister C contained in the "new third storage tank". The power generation system 100 is also configured to include the above-mentioned hydrogen gas supply device 1, fuel cell unit 2, and hydrogen gas generation device 3.

[0068] Therefore, according to this hydrogen gas supply device 1 and power generation system 100, the "container change condition" is satisfied, and high-temperature water Wh stored in the water W stored in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 serving as the "first liquid storage tank" (i.e., the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 housing the canister C that had been supplying hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2 until just before) is caused to flow into the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 serving as the "third liquid storage tank" (i.e., the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 housing the canister C that will begin supplying hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2), thereby heating the canister C housed in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 serving as the "third liquid storage tank" to release a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G required for power generation in the fuel cell unit 2, without wasting the energy required to heat the water Wh supplied to the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 serving as the "first liquid storage tank". Furthermore, when the "container change condition" is satisfied, the low-temperature water Wc stored in the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10 serving as the "second liquid storage tank" (i.e., the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10 housing the canister C into which hydrogen gas G had been flowed and stored until just before) is caused to flow into the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10 serving as the "first liquid storage tank" (i.e., the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10 housing the canister C into which the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generating device 3 is to begin storing), thereby cooling the canister C housed in the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10 serving as the "first liquid storage tank" (the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10 housing the canister C whose temperature has risen due to heat exchange with the high-temperature water Wh as a result of having supplied hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2 until just before) without wasting the energy required to cool the water Wc supplied to the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10 serving as the "second liquid storage tank", thereby allowing the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generating device 3 to be suitably stored.In addition, the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 serving as the "third liquid storage tank" can be supplied with high-temperature water Wh heated by the condenser 22 as a "new first liquid storage tank", so that hydrogen gas G can be suitably released from the canister C contained in the "new first liquid storage tank" and supplied to the fuel cell unit 2, and the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 serving as the "first liquid storage tank" can be supplied with low-temperature water Wc cooled by the evaporator 25 as a "new second liquid storage tank", so that the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generation device 3 can be suitably stored in the canister C contained in the "new second liquid storage tank", and the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 serving as the "second liquid storage tank" can be supplied with low-temperature water Wc cooled by the evaporator 25 as a "new second liquid storage tank". By maintaining the temperature-adjusting liquid tank 10 as the "new third liquid storage tank" in a state in which the amount of water W stored therein falls below the "first liquid storage amount" and hydrogen gas G is not supplied or flowed into the "new third liquid storage tank" from the canister C contained in the "new third liquid storage tank", when the "container change condition" is later satisfied, water W can be reliably and easily transferred from the "new first liquid storage tank" to the "new third liquid storage tank" in which no water W is present, and water W can be reliably and easily transferred from the "new second liquid storage tank" to the "new first liquid storage tank" in which no water W is present due to the transfer to the "new third liquid storage tank".

[0069] Furthermore, in this hydrogen gas supply device 1, the control unit 19 determines that the "container change condition" is satisfied when the amount of hydrogen gas G stored in the canister C supplying the hydrogen gas G has decreased to a predetermined lower limit storage amount. Therefore, according to this hydrogen gas supply device 1 and power generation system 100, it is possible to continuously supply hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2 from the canister C contained in the "new first storage tank" in place of the canister C in which the amount of hydrogen gas G stored has decreased to the lower limit storage amount. This allows the fuel cell unit 2 to reliably continue generating power.

[0070] In addition, in this hydrogen gas supply device 1, the control unit 19 determines that the "container change condition" is satisfied when the amount of hydrogen gas G stored in the canister C into which the hydrogen gas G is flowing has increased to a predefined upper limit storage amount. Therefore, according to this hydrogen gas supply device 1 and power generation system 100, by starting storage of hydrogen gas G in the canister C accommodated in the "new second liquid storage tank" instead of the canister C in which the amount of hydrogen gas G stored has increased to the upper limit storage amount, it is possible to continue storage in any of the canisters C (the canister C accommodated in the new second liquid storage tank) without stopping the generation of hydrogen gas G by the hydrogen gas generation device 3. In addition, by changing the canister C that supplies hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2 at the time when such a condition is satisfied, the supply of hydrogen gas G from the canister C that supplied hydrogen gas G before the change is terminated in a state in which the amount of hydrogen gas G stored in the canister C that supplied hydrogen gas G before the change is greater than the lower limit storage amount, so that when storage of hydrogen gas G in the canister C is started later, it is possible to store hydrogen gas G up to the upper limit storage amount in a short time. Therefore, even if the consumption amount of hydrogen gas G per unit time in the fuel cell unit 2 increases, the hydrogen gas G required for power generation can be reliably supplied from the canister C in which a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G is stored.

[0071] The configurations of the “fuel supply device” and the “power generation system” are not limited to the examples of the configurations of the hydrogen gas supply device 1 and the power generation system 100 described above.

[0072] For example, when the "predetermined container change condition" is satisfied, the control unit 19 flows high-temperature water Wh from the temperature-adjustment liquid tank 10 as the "first liquid storage tank" to the temperature-adjustment liquid tank 10 as the "third liquid storage tank", flows high-temperature water Wh into the temperature-adjustment liquid tank 10 as the "third liquid storage tank" as a "new first liquid storage tank", flows low-temperature water Wc from the temperature-adjustment liquid tank 10 as the "second liquid storage tank" to the temperature-adjustment liquid tank 10 as the "first liquid storage tank", flows low-temperature water Wc into the temperature-adjustment liquid tank 10 as the "first liquid storage tank" as a "new second liquid storage tank", and maintains the temperature-adjustment liquid tank 10 as the "second liquid storage tank" as a "new third liquid storage tank" below the "first liquid storage amount". However, instead of such control, a configuration for performing control as follows can also be adopted.

[0073] Here, as an example, it is assumed that during the previous operation performed in the same manner as the operation example described below, a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G was stored in each of the canisters C contained in the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10a, and the remaining amount of hydrogen gas G in the canisters C contained in the temperature-adjusted liquid tanks 10b, 10c was decreasing (a state in which the amount of hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 was reduced to a level that could be stored by flowing in the hydrogen gas G).

[0074] In this state, when power generation in the fuel cell unit 2 is started, the control unit 19 first switches the on-off valve 18a to an open state while maintaining the on-off valves 18b and 18c in a closed state, thereby supplying hydrogen gas G from the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a to the power generation cells of the fuel cell unit 2. In parallel with the supply of hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2, the control unit 19 switches the on-off valve 17b to an open state while maintaining the on-off valves 17a and 17c in a closed state, thereby causing the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 to flow into the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b and be stored therein.

[0075] At this time, in order to avoid a decrease in the amount of hydrogen gas G stored per unit time in the canister C contained in the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10b (the amount of hydrogen gas G stored per unit time generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3), the control unit 19 supplies water Wc cooled by the heat pump 11 (evaporator 25) to the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10b (an example of control of "supplying heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to the liquid storage tank A containing a storage container into which the second gas is flowing among the liquid storage tanks"), thereby cooling the canister C in the temperature-adjusted liquid tank 10b by heat exchange with the water Wc. In addition, in order to avoid a decrease in the amount of hydrogen gas G released per unit time from the canister C contained in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a (the amount supplied to the fuel cell unit 2), the control unit 19 supplies water Wh heated by the heat pump 11 (condenser 22) to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a (an example of control of "supplying heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to the liquid storage tank B containing the storage container supplying the second gas among the liquid storage tanks"), thereby heating the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a by heat exchange with the water Wh.

[0076] Specifically, the control unit 19 operates the pumps 12h and 12c while the heat pump 11 is heating and cooling the water W as described above, and also switches the on-off valves 13a and 14a to an open state, switches the on-off valves 13b, 13c, 14b, and 14c to a closed state, switches the on-off valves 15b and 16b to an open state, and switches the on-off valves 15a, 15c, 16a, and 16c to a closed state, as shown in Fig. 2. As a result, the water Wc cooled in the evaporator 25 passes through the on-off valve 15b and is supplied to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b, and the canister C is cooled by heat exchange with the water Wc in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b, and the water Wc whose temperature has increased by heat exchange with the canister C passes through the on-off valve 16b and is drawn into the pump 12c, where it is cooled again in the evaporator 25. In addition, the water Wh heated in the condenser 22 passes through the on-off valve 13a and is supplied to the temperature-adjusting liquid tank 10a, and the canister C is heated by heat exchange with the water Wh in the temperature-adjusting liquid tank 10a. At the same time, the water Wh whose temperature has been reduced by heat exchange with the canister C passes through the on-off valve 14a and is sucked into the pump 12h and heated again in the condenser 22.

[0077] Furthermore, water W is not flowed into the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c, and a state in which no water W is stored is maintained (an example of control in which "a state in which the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in the liquid storage tank C containing a storage container to which the second gas is not supplied and to which the second gas is not flowed is maintained below a predetermined first storage amount when the storage amount of the second gas in each liquid storage tank is below a predetermined second storage amount").

[0078] By continuing this state, the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 is maintained in a state in which it is suitably absorbed in the hydrogen storage alloy in the canister C accommodated in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b, and a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G is stored in the canister C in a short period of time. Also, a state in which a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G is released from the canister C accommodated in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a is maintained, and the amount of hydrogen gas G required for power generation is continuously supplied to the fuel cell unit 2.

[0079] On the other hand, by continuing to store the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3, the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b will have a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G stored therein, and it will be difficult to make the hydrogen storage alloy absorb the hydrogen gas G even if the canister C is cooled by heat exchange with the water Wc. Also, by continuing to generate electricity by the fuel cell unit 2, the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a will have a reduced amount of hydrogen gas G due to the supply of hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2, and it will be difficult to release a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G required for generating electricity even if the canister C is heated by heat exchange with the water Wh. Therefore, when the above-mentioned "container change condition" is satisfied, the control unit 19 executes control to change both the canister C that releases the hydrogen gas G to be supplied to the fuel cell unit 2 and the canister C into which the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 flows.

[0080] Specifically, the control unit 19 causes the on-off valve 17a to remain in a closed state, shifts the on-off valve 17b to a closed state, and shifts the on-off valve 17c to an open state. At this time, instead of the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b, the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 passes through the on-off valve 17c and flows into the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10c, and is stored in the canister C. This allows the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 to continue being stored in the canister C. In addition, the control unit 19 causes the on-off valve 18c to remain in a closed state, shifts the on-off valve 18a to a closed state, and shifts the on-off valve 18b to an open state. At this time, instead of the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a, the hydrogen gas G is released from the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b, passes through the on-off valve 18b, and is supplied to the power generation cell of the fuel cell unit 2. This allows the power generation in the fuel cell unit 2 to continue.

[0081] In addition, the control unit 19 changes the flow path of the water W in conjunction with the change in the flow path of the hydrogen gas G as described above. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 11, the control unit 19 first maintains the on-off valve 16b in an open state and the on-off valves 16a and 16c in a closed state, and then, while maintaining the on-off valve 15a in a closed state, shifts the on-off valve 15b to a closed state and shifts the on-off valve 15c to an open state. At this time, the water Wc stored in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b passes through the on-off valve 16b, the pump 12c, the evaporator 25, and the on-off valve 15c in this order and flows into the temperature regulating liquid tank 10c (an example of control for "flowing the heat transfer liquid stored in the liquid storage tank A into the liquid storage tank C"). This allows the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c to be cooled by heat exchange with the water Wc moved from the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c, thereby preventing a decrease in the amount of hydrogen gas G stored per unit time (the amount absorbed in the hydrogen storage alloy).

[0082] 12, in a state in which the on-off valves 15a and 15b are maintained in a closed state and the on-off valve 15c is maintained in an open state, the control unit 19 causes the on-off valve 16a to be maintained in a closed state, shifts the on-off valve 16b to a closed state, and shifts the on-off valve 16c to an open state. At this time, the water Wc cooled in the evaporator 25 passes through the on-off valve 15c and is supplied to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c, and the canister C is cooled by heat exchange with the water Wc in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c, and the water Wc whose temperature has increased by heat exchange with the canister C passes through the on-off valve 16c and is sucked into the pump 12c and cooled again in the evaporator 25. As a result, the storage amount per unit time for the canister C accommodated in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c is maintained, and the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generation device 3 is continuously stored (an example of the operation of "starting the supply of the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to the new liquid storage tank A, using the liquid storage tank C as a new liquid storage tank A, and starting the flow of the second gas into the storage container accommodated in the new liquid storage tank A").

[0083] Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 19, in a state where the on-off valve 14a is maintained in an open state and the on-off valves 14b and 14c are maintained in a closed state, shifts the on-off valve 13a to a closed state and shifts the on-off valve 13b to an open state while maintaining the on-off valve 13c in a closed state. At this time, the water Wh stored in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a passes through the on-off valve 14a, the pump 12h, the condenser 22, and the on-off valve 13b in this order and flows into the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b (an example of control for "flowing the heat transfer liquid stored in the liquid storage tank B into the liquid storage tank A"). As a result, the canister C in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b is heated by heat exchange with the water Wh moved from the temperature regulating liquid tank 10a to the temperature regulating liquid tank 10b, and it is possible to avoid a decrease in the amount of hydrogen gas G released per unit time.

[0084] 10, in a state where the on-off valves 13a and 13c are maintained in a closed state and the on-off valve 13b is maintained in an open state, the control unit 19 switches the on-off valve 14b to an open state and switches the on-off valve 14a to a closed state while maintaining the on-off valve 14c in a closed state. At this time, the water Wh heated in the condenser 22 passes through the on-off valve 13b and is supplied to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b, and the canister C is heated by heat exchange with the water Wh in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b, and the water Wh whose temperature has been reduced by heat exchange with the canister C passes through the on-off valve 14b and is drawn into the pump 12h and heated again in the condenser 22. As a result, the amount of hydrogen gas G released per unit time from the canister C contained in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b is maintained, and the hydrogen gas G necessary for power generation is continuously supplied to the fuel cell unit 2 (an example of an operation of "starting the supply of the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to the new liquid storage tank B, using the liquid storage tank A as the new liquid storage tank B, and starting the supply of the second gas from the storage container contained in the new liquid storage tank B").

[0085] 10, in the state where the flow paths of the water Wh and Wc are switched, the water Wh is transferred to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b, and no new water Wc or water Wh flows into the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10a, which contains the canister C in which the remaining amount of hydrogen gas G has decreased (below the "second storage amount") due to supply to the fuel cell unit 2 before the switching of the flow paths, and this state is maintained (one example of the operation of "maintaining a state in which the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in the new liquid storage tank C is below the first storage amount specified in advance, with the second gas not being supplied to or flowing into the storage container contained in the new liquid storage tank C"). With the above, the switching of the flow path of the water W is completed.

[0086] On the other hand, when the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10b decreases to the lower limit storage amount or the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10c increases to the upper limit storage amount (a state in which the "container change condition is satisfied") by continuing the power generation by the fuel cell unit 2 and the storage of the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generation device 3, the control unit 19 again switches the flow path of the hydrogen gas G and the flow path of the water W. Note that this switching process is similar to the example described above, and therefore a detailed description will be omitted. As a result, power generation by the hydrogen gas G for the fuel cell unit 2 and storage of the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generation device 3 are continued.

[0087] In this manner, in the above-described control example, the control unit 19 controls the temperature adjustment of the water W by the heat pump 11, the supply of the water W by the pumps 12h, 12c and the on-off valves 13-16, and the switching of the flow path of the hydrogen gas G by the on-off valves 17, 18, and controls the water Wc cooled by the evaporator 25 to be supplied to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 (liquid storage tank A) in which the canister C into which the hydrogen gas G flows is accommodated in each of the temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10, and controls the water Wc to be supplied to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 (liquid storage tank A) in which the canister C into which the hydrogen gas G flows in is accommodated in each of the temperature adjustment liquid tanks 10. The temperature regulating liquid tank 10 (liquid storage tank B) is supplied with water Wh heated by the condenser 22, and when the amount of hydrogen gas G stored in each temperature regulating liquid tank 10 falls below a predetermined second storage amount, the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 (liquid storage tank C) containing the canister C to which hydrogen gas G is not supplied or into which hydrogen gas G is not flowed is maintained in a state in which the amount of water W stored in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 (liquid storage tank C) is below a predetermined first storage amount, and when a predetermined "container change condition" is satisfied, the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 is changed to the "liquid storage tank A". The water W stored in tank 10 is caused to flow into temperature regulating liquid tank 10 as "storage tank C" and the water W stored in temperature regulating liquid tank 10 as "storage tank B" is caused to flow into temperature regulating liquid tank 10 as "storage tank A". After that, the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 as "storage tank C" is treated as a "new storage tank A", and the supply of water W cooled by evaporator 25 to the "new storage tank A" and the flow of hydrogen gas G into canister C contained in the "new storage tank A" are started, and the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 as "storage tank A" is treated as a "new The supply of water W heated by condenser 22 to "new storage tank B" and the supply of hydrogen gas G from canister C contained in "new storage tank B" are started, and the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 serving as "storage tank B" is used as "new storage tank C", so that the storage amount of water W in the "new storage tank C" falls below a predefined "first storage amount" and a state is maintained in which no supply or inflow of hydrogen gas G is performed to the canister C contained in the "new storage tank C". The power generation system 100 is also configured to include a hydrogen gas supply device 1 that performs the above-mentioned control, a fuel cell unit 2, and a hydrogen gas generation device 3.

[0088] Therefore, according to this hydrogen gas supply device 1 and power generation system 100, the "container change condition" is satisfied, and the low-temperature water Wc stored in the water W stored in the temperature-regulated liquid tank 10 serving as the "storage tank A" (i.e., the temperature-regulated liquid tank 10 housing the canister C into which hydrogen gas G was flowed and stored until just before) is caused to flow into the temperature-regulated liquid tank 10 serving as the "storage tank C" (i.e., the temperature-regulated liquid tank 10 housing the canister C that begins storing the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3), thereby cooling the canister C housed in the temperature-regulated liquid tank 10 serving as the "storage tank C" and suitably storing the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3, without wasting the energy required to cool the water Wc supplied to the temperature-regulated liquid tank 10 serving as the "storage tank A". Furthermore, when the "container change condition" is satisfied, the high-temperature water Wh stored in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 serving as "storage tank B" (i.e., the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 housing the canister C that had been supplying hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2 until just before) is caused to flow into the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 serving as "storage tank A" (i.e., the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 housing the canister C that will start supplying hydrogen gas G to the fuel cell unit 2), thereby heating the canister C housed in the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 serving as "storage tank A" (the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 housing the canister C whose temperature has been reduced by heat exchange with the low-temperature water Wc due to the flow of hydrogen gas G therein and storage therein until just before) and releasing a sufficient amount of hydrogen gas G required for power generation in the fuel cell unit 2, without wasting the energy required to heat the water Wh supplied to the temperature regulating liquid tank 10 serving as "storage tank B".In addition, by supplying low-temperature water Wc cooled by the evaporator 25 to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 serving as the "storage tank C" as the "new liquid storage tank A", the hydrogen gas G generated by the hydrogen gas generator 3 can be suitably stored in the canister C accommodated in the "new liquid storage tank A". By supplying high-temperature water Wh heated by the condenser 22 to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 serving as the "storage tank A" as the "new liquid storage tank B", the hydrogen gas G can be suitably released from the canister C accommodated in the "new liquid storage tank B" and supplied to the fuel cell unit 2. By maintaining the temperature-adjusting liquid tank 10 as the "new liquid storage tank C" such that the amount of stored water W falls below the "first liquid storage amount" and hydrogen gas G is not supplied from the canister C contained in the "new liquid storage tank C" and hydrogen gas G is not flowing in, when the "container change condition" is later satisfied, water W can be reliably and easily transferred from the "new liquid storage tank A" to the "new liquid storage tank C" where no water W is present, and water W can be reliably and easily transferred from the "new liquid storage tank B" to the "new liquid storage tank A" which has become free of water W due to its transfer to the "new liquid storage tank C".

[0089] In addition, the configuration in which the water W is heated and cooled by the heat pump 11 has been described as an example, but the configuration of the "temperature adjustment unit" is not limited to this. As an example, a configuration in which a hot heat source such as an electric heater as the "heating unit" and a cold heat source such as a refrigeration cycle (evaporator) as the "cooling unit" are operated to heat and cool the "heat transfer liquid" can also be adopted. In addition, the configuration in which the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 has three "liquid storage tanks" has been described as an example, but the number of "liquid storage tanks" is not limited to this and can be any number of four or more. In addition, the configuration in which the water Wh, Wc whose temperature has been adjusted by the heat pump 11 is supplied to the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 to heat and cool the canister C in the temperature adjustment liquid tank 10 has been described as an example, but the "heat transfer liquid" is not limited to water W, and various liquids such as brine and oil can be used.

[0090] In addition, the configuration of the power generation system 100 including the hydrogen gas generator 3 together with the hydrogen gas supply device 1 and the fuel cell unit 2 has been described, but instead of such a configuration, the configuration of the present invention can also be adopted in a power generation system (another example of a "power generation system") configured to store hydrogen gas G generated by a hydrogen gas generator (gas generator) as an external device in a canister C and supply it to the fuel cell unit 2. Also, a configuration can be adopted in which hydrogen gas G is supplied from a "fuel supply device" including the hydrogen gas supply device 1 and the fuel cell unit 2 to a "fuel cell unit" as an external device, or a configuration can be adopted in which hydrogen gas G generated by a hydrogen gas generator (gas generator) as an external device is supplied from the hydrogen gas supply device 1 to a "fuel cell unit" as an external device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 100 Power Generation System 1 Hydrogen gas supply device 2 Fuel Cell Unit 3 Hydrogen gas generator 10a~10c Temperature control liquid tank 11 Heat pump 12h,12c Pump 13a~13c, 14a~14c, 15a~15c, 16a~16c, 17a~17c, 18a~18c On-off valve 19 Control section 21 Compressor 22 Condenser 23 Heat sink 23a Fan 24 Expansion valve 25 Evaporator C Hydrogen canister G Hydrogen gas Wh,Wc water

Claims

1. A fuel supply device configured to be capable of supplying a second gas to a fuel cell unit configured to generate electricity by reacting a first gas containing an oxidant with a second gas containing hydrogen, the fuel supply device comprising: A plurality of storage containers capable of storing the second gas; At least three liquid storage tanks configured to accommodate the storage container and to store a heat transfer liquid for adjusting the temperature of the storage container by heat exchange with the storage container; A temperature adjustment unit having a heating unit that heats the heat transfer liquid and a cooling unit that cools the heat transfer liquid; a heat transfer liquid supply unit that supplies the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to one of the liquid storage tanks and supplies the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to another of the liquid storage tanks; a gas flow path switching unit that causes the second gas generated by the gas generating device to flow into the storage container contained in any one of the liquid storage tanks and to be stored therein, and that causes the second gas stored in the storage container contained in any other one of the liquid storage tanks to be supplied to the fuel cell unit; a control unit that controls temperature adjustment of the heat transfer liquid by the temperature adjustment unit, supply of the heat transfer liquid by the heat transfer liquid supply unit, and flow path switching of the second gas by the gas flow path switching unit; The control unit is supplying the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to a first liquid storage tank that houses the storage container to which the second gas is being supplied among the liquid storage tanks, and supplying the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to a second liquid storage tank that houses the storage container to which the second gas is being flowed among the liquid storage tanks; and maintaining a state in which the amount of the heat transfer liquid stored in a third liquid storage tank that houses the storage container to which the second gas is not being supplied and to which the second gas is not being flowed in, is less than the first amount of the heat transfer liquid stored in the third liquid storage tank, in a state in which the amount of the second gas stored in the third liquid storage tank exceeds a first amount of the second gas stored in the third liquid storage tank, When a predetermined container change condition is satisfied, the heat transfer liquid stored in the first liquid storage tank is caused to flow into the third liquid storage tank, and the heat transfer liquid stored in the second liquid storage tank is caused to flow into the first liquid storage tank, and then, the third liquid storage tank is used as a new first liquid storage tank, and the supply of the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to the new first liquid storage tank and the supply of the second gas from the storage container contained in the new first liquid storage tank are started, and the first liquid storage tank is used as the new second liquid storage tank. and supplying the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to the new second liquid storage tank and starting the flow of the second gas into the storage container contained in the new second liquid storage tank, while using the second liquid storage tank as the new third liquid storage tank and maintaining a state in which the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in the new third liquid storage tank falls below the predetermined first storage amount and the supply of the second gas and the flow of the second gas into the storage container contained in the new third liquid storage tank are not performed.

2. A fuel supply device configured to be capable of supplying a second gas to a fuel cell unit configured to generate electricity by reacting a first gas containing an oxidant with a second gas containing hydrogen, the fuel supply device comprising: A plurality of storage containers capable of storing the second gas; At least three liquid storage tanks configured to accommodate the storage container and to store a heat transfer liquid for adjusting the temperature of the storage container by heat exchange with the storage container; A temperature adjustment unit having a heating unit that heats the heat transfer liquid and a cooling unit that cools the heat transfer liquid; a heat transfer liquid supply unit that supplies the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to one of the liquid storage tanks and supplies the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to another of the liquid storage tanks; a gas flow path switching unit that causes the second gas generated by the gas generating device to flow into the storage container contained in any one of the liquid storage tanks and to be stored therein, and that causes the second gas stored in the storage container contained in any other one of the liquid storage tanks to be supplied to the fuel cell unit; a control unit that controls temperature adjustment of the heat transfer liquid by the temperature adjustment unit, supply of the heat transfer liquid by the heat transfer liquid supply unit, and flow path switching of the second gas by the gas flow path switching unit; The control unit is supplying the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to liquid storage tank A housing the storage container into which the second gas is flowing among the liquid storage tanks, and supplying the heat transfer liquid heated by the heating unit to liquid storage tank B housing the storage container into which the second gas is being supplied among the liquid storage tanks, and maintaining a state in which the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in liquid storage tank C housing the storage container into which the second gas is not being supplied and into which the second gas is not being flowed is below a predetermined first storage amount while the storage amount of the second gas in the liquid storage tanks is below a predetermined second storage amount; When a predetermined container change condition is satisfied, the heat transfer liquid stored in the liquid storage tank A is caused to flow into the liquid storage tank C, and the heat transfer liquid stored in the liquid storage tank B is caused to flow into the liquid storage tank A. After that, the liquid storage tank C is treated as a new liquid storage tank A, and the supply of the heat transfer liquid cooled by the cooling unit to the new liquid storage tank A and the flow of the second gas into the storage container contained in the new liquid storage tank A are started. A fuel supply device which starts the supply of the heat transfer liquid heated by a heating unit to the new liquid storage tank B, and the supply of the second gas from the storage container contained in the new liquid storage tank B, and maintains a state in which the storage amount of the heat transfer liquid in the new liquid storage tank C falls below the predetermined first storage amount, and the supply of the second gas to the storage container contained in the new liquid storage tank C and the flow of the second gas into the storage container are not performed, while the storage tank B is treated as the new liquid storage tank C, and the supply of the heat transfer liquid to the new liquid storage tank C and the flow of the second gas into the storage container contained in the new liquid storage tank C are not performed.

3. 3. The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the predetermined container change condition is satisfied when the amount of the second gas stored in the storage container supplying the second gas decreases to a predetermined lower limit storage amount.

4. 3. The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the predetermined container change condition is satisfied when the amount of the second gas stored in the storage container into which the second gas is flowing increases to a predetermined upper limit storage amount.

5. 3. A power generation system comprising the fuel supply device according to claim 1, the fuel cell unit, and the gas generation device.

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