Fuel cell vehicle

Abstract

To provide a fuel cell vehicle which inhibits an air bearing from being invaded by water.SOLUTION: A fuel cell vehicle comprises: an air compressor with an air bearing; and a fuel cell which the air compressor supplies with air. The fuel cell vehicle includes: a first discharge channel which discharges air exhausted from the fuel cell into outside of the fuel cell vehicle; and a second discharge channel which discharges air exhausted from the air bearing into outside of the fuel cell vehicle. An exhaust port of the second discharge channel is arranged at higher position than an exhaust port of the first discharge channel. Thereby, when the fuel cell vehicle crosses a river, water hardly enters into the exhaust port of the second discharge channel so that the fuel cell vehicle inhibits the air bearing from being invaded by water through the exhaust port of the second discharge channel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to fuel cell vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a fuel cell system having a fuel cell and an air compressor that supplies air to the fuel cell. The bearing of the air compressor is composed of an air bearing that operates with compressed air. The air discharged from the fuel cell and the air discharged from the air bearing are discharged to the outside of the vehicle through an outlet. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-008445 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a fuel cell vehicle crosses a river, if water flows into the exhaust port, the water may enter the air bearing. This specification proposes a technology for suppressing water from entering the air bearing in a fuel cell vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] (Aspect 1) The fuel cell vehicle disclosed in this specification includes an air compressor equipped with an air bearing, a fuel cell that receives a supply of air from the air compressor, a first exhaust flow path that discharges the air discharged from the fuel cell to the outside of the fuel cell vehicle, and a second exhaust flow path that discharges the air discharged from the air bearing to the outside of the fuel cell vehicle, wherein the outlet of the second exhaust flow path is positioned higher than the outlet of the first exhaust flow path.

[0006] In the above fuel cell vehicle, the outlet of the second discharge flow path is positioned higher than the outlet of the first discharge flow path. Therefore, when the fuel cell vehicle crosses a river, water is less likely to flow into the outlet of the second discharge flow path. This makes it possible to prevent water from entering the air bearing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a fuel cell system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a fuel cell vehicle. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an air bearing exhaust flow path. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The fuel cell system 10 shown in Fig. 1 is mounted on a fuel cell vehicle 100 shown in Fig. 2. The fuel cell vehicle 100 runs by driving a motor (not shown) with electric power generated by the fuel cell system 10. The fuel cell system 10 has a fuel cell 12 and an air compressor 14. The air compressor 14 supplies air to the fuel cell 12.

[0009] The fuel cell system 10 has an ECU (electronic control unit) 42 and a control unit 44. The ECU 42 and the control unit 44 control each part of the fuel cell system 10 (air compressor 14, valves, etc.).

[0010] The fuel cell 12 is provided at the front of the fuel cell vehicle 100 (for example, in the front compartment). Compressed air is supplied to the fuel cell 12 from an air compressor 14, and hydrogen is supplied from a tank (not shown). The fuel cell 12 generates electricity by reacting oxygen and hydrogen, and supplies the electricity to a motor (not shown).

[0011] An internal flow path 28 is provided inside the fuel cell 12. The fuel cell system 10 has a supply flow path 22 and a discharge flow path 24. The supply flow path 22 is connected to the upstream end of the internal flow path 28. The discharge flow path 24 is connected to the downstream end of the internal flow path 28.

[0012] The air compressor 14 is provided in the supply flow path 22. The air compressor 14 compresses the air in the supply flow path 22 and sends it downstream. When the air compressor 14 is driven, air is supplied to the fuel cell 12 through the supply flow path 22.

[0013] An intercooler 30 and an inlet seal valve 52 are provided in the supply flow path 22. The intercooler 30 is provided in a portion of the supply flow path 22 downstream of the air compressor 14. The intercooler 30 cools the compressed air supplied to the fuel cell 12 by heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing within the intercooler 30. The inlet seal valve 52 is provided in a portion of the supply flow path 22 downstream of the intercooler 30. The inlet seal valve 52 opens and closes the internal flow path 28.

[0014] The supply flow path 22 is provided with temperature sensors 32a and 32b, an air cleaner 34, an air flow meter 36, and a pressure sensor 38. The temperature sensor 32a is provided in the supply flow path 22 upstream of the air compressor 14. The temperature sensor 32a detects the temperature of the air flowing into the air compressor 14. The temperature sensor 32b is provided in the supply flow path 22 between the intercooler 30 and the inlet seal valve 52. The temperature sensor 32b detects the temperature of the air discharged from the air compressor 14. The air cleaner 34 is provided in the supply flow path 22 upstream of the temperature sensor 32a. The air cleaner 34 removes dust contained in the air flowing through the supply flow path 22. The air flow meter 36 is provided in the supply flow path 22 between the air cleaner 34 and the air compressor 14. The air flow meter 36 detects the flow rate of air flowing through the supply flow path 22. The pressure sensor 38 is provided in a portion of the supply flow path 22 between the intercooler 30 and the temperature sensor 32b. The pressure sensor 38 detects the pressure of the air flowing in the supply flow path 22.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 2, an exhaust port 24a is provided at the downstream end of the exhaust flow path 24. The air that has passed through the fuel cell 12 is exhausted to the outside of the fuel cell vehicle 100 via the exhaust flow path 24 and the exhaust port 24a. The exhaust flow path 24 is provided with a pressure regulating valve 54 and a muffler 40. The pressure inside the internal flow path 28 is adjusted by adjusting the opening degree of the pressure regulating valve 54. The muffler 40 is provided in the exhaust flow path 24, in a portion downstream of the pressure regulating valve 54. The muffler 40 reduces the noise generated when the air that has passed through the fuel cell 12 is exhausted to the outside of the fuel cell vehicle 100.

[0016] The fuel cell system 10 has a bypass flow path 26. The upstream end of the bypass flow path 26 is connected to the supply flow path 22, which is a portion between the temperature sensor 32b and the inlet seal valve 52. The downstream end of the bypass flow path 26 is connected to the discharge flow path 24, which is a portion between the pressure adjustment valve 54 and the muffler 40. The bypass flow path 26 is a flow path provided in parallel with the fuel cell 12 (i.e., the internal flow path 28). The bypass flow path 26 is provided with a flow dividing valve 56. The flow dividing valve 56 opens and closes the flow path of the bypass flow path 26.

[0017] The air compressor 14 is provided under the floor of the fuel cell vehicle 100. The air compressor 14 has an air compressor main body 14a, a motor 14b, and an inverter 14c. The motor 14b has a rotor 14d and an air bearing 14e. The air bearing 14e rotatably supports the rotor 14d. The inverter 14c supplies current to the motor 14b to rotate the rotor 14d. When the rotor 14d rotates, the air compressor main body 14a pressurizes the air in the supply flow path 22 and sends it downstream. The flow rate of air flowing into the air compressor 14 is controlled by controlling the rotation speed of the motor 14b.

[0018] The fuel cell system 10 has an air bearing supply flow path 62 and an air bearing discharge flow path 64. The upstream end of the air bearing supply flow path 62 is connected to the supply flow path 22, which is a portion between the air compressor 14 and the intercooler 30. The downstream end of the air bearing supply flow path 62 is connected to the air bearing 14e. The upstream end of the air bearing discharge flow path 64 is connected to the air bearing 14e. An outlet 64a is provided at the downstream end of the air bearing discharge flow path 64. When the air compressor 14 is operating, some of the air flowing through the supply flow path 22 (i.e., the air compressed by the air compressor 14) flows through the air bearing supply flow path 62 to the air bearing 14e. The compressed air flows to the bearing interface of the air bearing 14e. This reduces friction at the air bearing 14e. The compressed air also cools the air bearing 14e. The air that has passed through the air bearing 14e flows downstream through the air bearing discharge flow path 64 and is discharged to the outside of the fuel cell vehicle 100 through the outlet 64a.

[0019] 2, the outlet 64a of the air bearing outlet flow path 64 is located at a higher position than the outlet 24a of the outlet flow path 24. The outlet 64a is located at a higher position than the water level H1 (e.g., 700 mm) when the fuel cell vehicle 100 is crossing a river. Therefore, when the fuel cell vehicle 100 is crossing a river, water or foreign matter is less likely to flow into the air bearing 14e from the outlet 64a. In other words, water can be prevented from entering the air compressor 14.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3 , the fuel cell vehicle 100 also has an interior air conditioning exhaust flow path 70. The interior air conditioning exhaust flow path 70 is a flow path through which air used for interior air conditioning flows. An outlet 70a of the interior air conditioning exhaust flow path 70 is located adjacent to the outlet 64a of the air bearing exhaust flow path 64. The air discharged from the outlet 64a is discharged along with the air discharged from the outlet 70a. In other words, these air flows merge and are discharged. By merging the air that has passed through the air bearing 14e with the air that has passed through the interior air conditioning exhaust flow path 70, it is possible to suppress the discharge of high-temperature air. Furthermore, because the air discharged from the outlets 64a and 70a merge, air can be efficiently discharged to the outside from the outlet 64a.

[0021] At least one of the fuel cell 12, inlet seal valve 52, pressure regulating valve 54 and flow dividing valve 56 in the above-described embodiment is positioned at a position higher than the water surface height H1 (e.g., 700 mm) when the fuel cell vehicle 100 crosses the river.

[0022] In the embodiment described above, the air flowing through the air bearing supply channel 62 and the air bearing exhaust channel 64 is supplied from the supply channel 22. In other words, the air flowing through channels 62, 64 does not pass through the fuel cell 12. Therefore, the air flowing through channels 62, 64 contains almost no moisture. As a result, corrosion of channels 62, 64 can be suppressed.

[0023] In the above-described embodiment, the exhaust flow path 24 is an example of a first exhaust flow path, and the air bearing exhaust flow path 64 is an example of a second exhaust flow path.

[0024] In the embodiment described above, the upstream end of the air bearing supply passage 62 is connected to the supply passage 22, between the air compressor 14 and the intercooler 30. However, the upstream end of the air bearing supply passage 62 may also be connected to the air compressor main body 14a.

[0025] Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and variations of the specific examples exemplified above. The technical elements described in this specification or drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technology exemplified in this specification or drawings simultaneously achieves multiple objectives, and achieving one of these objectives itself has technical utility. [Explanation of symbols]

[0026] 10: Fuel cell system 12:Fuel cell 14: Air compressor 14a: Air compressor body 14b: Motor 14c: Inverter 14d: rotor 14e: Air bearing 22: Supply channel 24: Discharge flow path 24a: Outlet 54: Pressure regulating valve 56: Flow dividing valve 62: Air bearing supply channel 64: Air bearing exhaust passage 64a: Discharge port 70: Vehicle interior air conditioning exhaust flow path 70a: Discharge port 100: Fuel cell vehicle H1: Height

Claims

[Claim 1] A fuel cell vehicle, an air compressor having an air bearing; a fuel cell that receives air from the air compressor; a first exhaust flow path that exhausts air discharged from the fuel cell to the outside of the fuel cell vehicle; a second exhaust flow path that exhausts the air exhausted from the air bearing to the outside of the fuel cell vehicle; Equipped with The outlet of the second discharge flow path is disposed at a higher position than the outlet of the first discharge flow path. Fuel cell vehicle.

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