Fuel supply system

Abstract

To provide a fuel supply system capable of avoiding breakage of at least one of a hydrogen tank and a hydrogen consumption device.SOLUTION: A fuel supply system comprising a detachable hydrogen tank, a hydrogen consuming device that consumes hydrogen in the hydrogen tank, and a control device, wherein the hydrogen consuming device has a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor is provided in the vicinity of a position where a hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank is present when the hydrogen tank is disposed in the hydrogen consuming device, and the proximity sensor detects a relative position of the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank with respect to the hydrogen consuming device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fuel delivery system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile body equipped with a detachable hydrogen tank. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-056947 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional fuel supply systems, when starting control to attach a hydrogen tank to a hydrogen consumption device, the system does not detect whether the hydrogen tank and hydrogen consumption device are positioned in the specified positions, and if the hydrogen tank and hydrogen consumption device are positioned away from the specified positions due to foreign matter getting caught in them, etc., executing the attachment control as is could lead to damage to at least one of the hydrogen tank and the hydrogen consumption device.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and has as its main object to provide a fuel supply system that can avoid damage to at least one of the hydrogen tank and the hydrogen consuming device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] That is, the present disclosure includes the following aspects. <1> A fuel supply system having a detachable hydrogen tank, a hydrogen consumption device that consumes hydrogen in the hydrogen tank, and a control device, the hydrogen consumer has a proximity sensor; the proximity sensor is provided near a position where a hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank is present when the hydrogen tank is placed in the hydrogen consumption device; A fuel supply system, wherein the proximity sensor detects the relative position of the hydrogen supply inlet of the hydrogen tank and the hydrogen consuming device.

[0007] <2> the control device determines whether the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank is located at a predetermined position of the hydrogen consumption device; When the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank is located at a predetermined position of the hydrogen consumption device, the control device starts an attachment control to connect the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen consumption device in a state in which the hydrogen tank can supply hydrogen to the hydrogen consumption device; If the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank is not positioned at a predetermined position of the hydrogen consumption device, the control device does not start the mounting control. <1> 2. A fuel supply system according to claim 1.

[0008] <3> the fuel supply system includes a plurality of the hydrogen tanks, the control device determines whether the hydrogen supply ports of the plurality of hydrogen tanks are arranged at predetermined positions of the hydrogen consumption device; the control device starts the mounting control for only one of the hydrogen tanks whose hydrogen supply port is located at a predetermined position of the hydrogen consumption device, among the plurality of hydrogen tanks; <2> 2. A fuel supply system according to claim 1.

[0009] <4> the hydrogen tank has a first connection part equipped with the hydrogen supply port, the hydrogen consuming device has a desorber; The detacher has a second connection part, In the mounting control, the control device connects the first connection portion of the hydrogen tank and the second connection portion of the detacher. <2> or <3> 2. A fuel supply system according to claim 1.

[0010] <5> the first connection part is an on-off valve, The second connecting part is a push rod. <4> 2. A fuel supply system according to claim 1. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The fuel supply system of the present disclosure can prevent damage to at least one of the hydrogen tank and the hydrogen consuming device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a fuel supply system according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a state in which the hydrogen tank is placed at the hydrogen supply standby position W. As shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a state in which the hydrogen tank is placed at the hydrogen supply start position S. In FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the fuel supply system of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the continuation of the control of the fuel supply system of the present disclosure shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a time chart when it is detected that only the upper hydrogen tank in the fuel supply system of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 4 is inserted and fixed to a predetermined position in the desorber. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present disclosure provides a fuel supply system having a removable hydrogen tank, a hydrogen consumption device that consumes hydrogen from the hydrogen tank, and a control device, wherein the fuel supply system has a proximity sensor that is located near a position where the hydrogen supply inlet of the hydrogen tank is located when the hydrogen tank is placed within the hydrogen consumption device, and the proximity sensor detects the relative position of the hydrogen supply inlet of the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen consumption device.

[0014] This disclosure uses a proximity sensor to detect whether a hydrogen tank is inserted and secured in a predetermined position on the hydrogen consumption device when the hydrogen tank is attached to the hydrogen consumption device. Furthermore, when multiple hydrogen tanks are attached, attachment control is performed only for those hydrogen tanks that are detected as being inserted and secured in the predetermined position. The proximity sensor makes it possible to grasp the fit between the hydrogen tank and the hydrogen consumption device, preventing attachment control when the hydrogen tank is not properly secured to the hydrogen consumption device, thereby avoiding detachment of the hydrogen tank during hydrogen supply and damage to at least one of the hydrogen tank and the hydrogen consumption device. Furthermore, the system eliminates the need for the user to manually select and set which hydrogen tank to attach from among multiple hydrogen tanks, improving convenience.

[0015] The fuel supply system of the present disclosure includes a detachable hydrogen tank, a hydrogen consumption device that consumes hydrogen in the hydrogen tank, and a control device. The fuel supply system of the present disclosure may be used in mobile objects such as vehicles, trains, ships, and aircraft, and stationary power generation systems such as fuel cell generators. Examples of vehicles include fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen engine vehicles.

[0016] [Hydrogen tank] A hydrogen tank (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a tank) is a container for storing hydrogen as fuel, and hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank to a hydrogen consuming device. The fuel supply system may be equipped with multiple (n) hydrogen tanks. n may be an integer of 2 or greater, with no particular upper limit. The hydrogen tank may be any known tank as long as it is detachable. The hydrogen tank comprises a hydrogen tank body, which is the part that stores hydrogen, and a hydrogen supply port, which is the entrance and exit for hydrogen in the hydrogen tank body.

[0017] The hydrogen tank may have a first connection part (a connection part on the hydrogen tank side) that is connected to the hydrogen consuming device. The first connection part includes a hydrogen supply port. The first connection part may be an on-off valve (sometimes referred to as a tank shutoff valve) or the like. The on-off valve may have a valve body and a hydrogen supply port. The valve disc is a switching valve that allows or restricts communication between the inside and outside of the hydrogen tank. The valve disc is biased so as to restrict communication when closed, and pressing the valve disc against the biasing force moves the valve disc to allow communication. A push rod may be provided on the hydrogen consumption device as a means for pressing the valve disc, since pressure is applied to and released from the valve disc to allow or restrict communication. A push rod is inserted into the hydrogen supply port.

[0018] The hydrogen tank may be provided with a handle that can be grasped when attaching or detaching the hydrogen tank to or from the hydrogen consuming device.

[0019] [Hydrogen consumption device] The hydrogen consuming device is a device to which hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank, and receives and consumes hydrogen.

[0020] The hydrogen consuming device may be provided with a detachment mechanism for attaching and detaching the hydrogen tank to and from the hydrogen consuming device.

[0021] The detachment mechanism may include at least one motor that controls the attachment and detachment of the hydrogen tank to and from the hydrogen consuming device. The hydrogen consuming device may include multiple (n) motors corresponding to the attachment and detachment of each of the multiple (n) hydrogen tanks. The motor may be one that transmits the driving force of the motor directly to the hydrogen tank, or may be one that transmits the driving force to a moving part of the desorber. The motor may be a stepper motor. The stepping motor is a power source that moves a movable part via gears. The specific form of the stepping motor is not particularly limited, and any known stepping motor can be used. The stepping motor is electrically connected to a control device, and the rotation angle and rotation speed are controlled based on signals from the control device, thereby controlling the movement of the movable part with high precision. The stepper motor may be equipped with sensors such as a position sensor, a motor torque sensor, and a motor temperature sensor. The position sensor detects the position of the hydrogen tank, particularly the position of the on-off valve. The position sensor may detect the position of the on-off valve based on the rotation angle of the stepping motor detected by the motor torque sensor, or may detect the position of the on-off valve based on the temperature of the stepping motor detected by the motor temperature sensor. The specific form of the sensor is not particularly limited, and any known sensor can be used. The sensor is electrically connected to the control device and is configured to be able to transmit the measured position of the hydrogen tank to the control device as a signal.

[0022] The detachment mechanism may include a hydrogen tank biasing mechanism. A hydrogen tank biasing mechanism means a mechanism that, in a free state unaffected by other external forces, has a biasing force that moves the hydrogen tank from a position where the first connection part of the hydrogen tank connects with the second connection part of the hydrogen consumption device (hydrogen supply start position) to a predetermined position in the direction where the first connection part of the hydrogen tank disconnects from the second connection part of the hydrogen consumption device (hydrogen supply standby position). The hydrogen tank biasing mechanism may transmit the biasing force of the biasing mechanism directly to the hydrogen tank, or may be a spring, etc. The hydrogen tank biasing mechanism may be configured such that the spring is attached to the hydrogen tank, or may be configured such that the spring is attached to a movable part.

[0023] The detachment mechanism may include a detachment machine (mounting part) that can detach the hydrogen tank. The detacher may have a fitting portion and a movable portion.

[0024] The fitting portion fits into the hydrogen tank. When the hydrogen tank is attached to the desorption machine, the fitting portion only needs to fit into at least the end of the hydrogen tank on the hydrogen supply port side, and may fit into the entire hydrogen tank or may also fit into the end of the movable portion on the side opposite the fitting portion. When the fitting portion of the hydrogen tank is fitted, the first connecting portion of the hydrogen tank and the second connecting portion of the fitting portion are connected.

[0025] The hydrogen consuming device may be provided with a second connection part (a connection part on the hydrogen consuming device side). The second connecting part is connected to the first connecting part of the hydrogen tank and forms a flow passage (communication) with the hydrogen tank. The second connecting part may be provided in a fitting part of the detacher. The second connecting part may be a push rod or the like. The push rod is a member that can press a valve element provided in the on-off valve of the hydrogen tank, and may be rod-shaped, and the tip of the push rod may be configured to be able to be inserted into the hydrogen supply port of the on-off valve. The push rod may also be configured to form a flow path that allows hydrogen to flow from the inside of the hydrogen tank to the supply flow path when the push rod presses the valve body to open the on-off valve.

[0026] The detachment mechanism may have a locking portion that locks the hydrogen tank in a predetermined position when restricting movement of the hydrogen tank. The predetermined position may be a hydrogen supply start position or a hydrogen supply standby position. During lock control, the locking unit locks the hydrogen tank in a predetermined position, placing it in a locked state that restricts movement of the hydrogen tank, and during unlock control, it releases the lock and places the hydrogen tank in an unlocked state that allows movement of the hydrogen tank. The locking unit is electrically connected to a control device, and the control device drives the locking unit based on an input signal to switch between a locked state that restricts movement of the hydrogen tank and an unlocked state that allows movement of the hydrogen tank. The locking portion may be a locking pin or the like. The lock pin may be disposed in the fitting portion. The lock pin is a pin that is arranged so as to be able to protrude and retract into the engagement recess of the movable part, and when protruding, it enters the inside of the engagement recess and can engage with the engagement recess. On the other hand, the lock pin is arranged so as not to engage with the engagement recess when retracted. The lock pin is electrically connected to a control device, and its projection and retraction are controlled based on signals from the control device.

[0027] The movable part moves the hydrogen tank by controlling a motor. The movable part moves in a direction in which the first connection part of the hydrogen tank approaches or moves away from the second connection part of the hydrogen consumption device. The movable part moves the hydrogen tank between a hydrogen supply stop position, a hydrogen supply standby position, and a hydrogen supply start position. The movable portion may have a tank insertion hole. The tank insertion hole is a space in which a hydrogen tank is stored, and may be a space surrounded by an inner wall, having an opening through which the hydrogen tank can be inserted and removed.

[0028] The movable portion may have an engaging recess (positioning hole) that can be engaged with the locking portion. The engaging recess may be provided on the underside of the movable part. The specific shape of the engaging recess is not particularly limited as long as it is configured to allow the lock pin to engage and disengage, and it may be a depression or a groove. The width of the engagement recess (the size in the direction in which the movable part moves) may be greater than the width of the lock pin, so that even when the lock pin protrudes so as to enter the inside of the engagement recess, the movable part can move within the range of the width of the engagement recess.

[0029] The movable part may be a movable stage. The movable mounting base is a component on whose upper surface a hydrogen tank can be placed, and if the platform has a tank insertion hole on its upper surface, the hydrogen tank can be inserted and secured into the tank insertion hole. The movable mounting base refers to a platform that, with a hydrogen tank placed on it, can move in the direction in which the first connection portion of the hydrogen tank connects with the second connection portion of the hydrogen consumption device, and in the direction in which the first connection portion of the hydrogen tank detaches from the second connection portion of the hydrogen consumption device. The means for movement is not particularly limited, but examples include a combination of rails and wheels. The movable platform may be a base (tank platform).

[0030] The hydrogen consuming device has a proximity sensor. The hydrogen consuming device may include a plurality of (n) proximity sensors corresponding to a plurality of (n) hydrogen tanks. The proximity sensor is provided near the position where the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank is located when the hydrogen tank is placed in the hydrogen consumption device (specifically, in the tank insertion hole of the movable part of the desorber). The proximity sensor may be located on the moving part. The proximity sensor is a sensor that detects the approach of a detection object without contact, and detects the relative position of the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank and the hydrogen consumption device. The proximity sensor is electrically connected to the control device and is configured to be able to transmit the detected result to the control device as a signal.

[0031] The hydrogen consuming device may comprise a hydrogen consuming appliance. Examples of hydrogen consuming devices include fuel cells, hydrogen engines, and the combustion section of a hydrogen burner.

[0032] The hydrogen consuming device may be provided with a supply passage (hydrogen piping). The supply flow path is a path that conducts hydrogen from the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen consuming device and is composed of piping. The supply flow paths extending from each hydrogen tank may be joined together to form a single supply flow path that is connected to the hydrogen consuming device.

[0033] The hydrogen consumer may include an injection. The injector is disposed in the supply flow path between the second connection part and the hydrogen consuming device, and controls the supply of hydrogen to the hydrogen consuming device. Examples of the injector include a check valve and a flow rate adjusting valve.

[0034] The hydrogen consuming device may be equipped with a pressure gauge. The pressure gauge may be provided in each supply flow path so as to correspond to the internal pressure of each hydrogen tank, or may measure the internal pressure of each supply flow path (pressure in the piping). The pressure gauge is configured to transmit the obtained pressure value data to the control device.

[0035] In the hydrogen consumption device, the hydrogen tank is inserted and fixed, the hydrogen tank is attached, and the hydrogen tank is detached. Inserting and fixing (setting) the hydrogen tank refers to the operation of placing the hydrogen tank at the position where installation of the hydrogen tank begins (hydrogen supply stop position). Specifically, this may be the operation of inserting and fixing the hydrogen tank manually from outside the fuel supply system into the hydrogen insertion hole of the movable part of the detachment mechanism of the hydrogen consumption device. Installing a hydrogen tank means the operation of connecting the hydrogen tank and the hydrogen consumption device so that the hydrogen tank can supply hydrogen to the hydrogen consumption device; specifically, it means the operation of moving the hydrogen tank from the hydrogen supply stop position to a position (hydrogen supply standby position) where precise alignment begins for connecting the first connection part of the hydrogen tank and the second connection part of the hydrogen consumption device, and then moving the hydrogen tank from the hydrogen supply standby position to a position (hydrogen supply start position) where the first connection part of the hydrogen tank and the second connection part of the hydrogen consumption device are connected, and connecting the above pair of connections together. Detaching a hydrogen tank means the operation of disconnecting the first connection part of the hydrogen tank from the second connection part of the hydrogen consumption device, and moving the hydrogen tank from the hydrogen supply start position to the hydrogen supply standby position, and the operation of moving the hydrogen tank from the hydrogen supply standby position to the hydrogen supply stop position to make the hydrogen tank removable.

[0036] The hydrogen supply stop position is the position where attachment of the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen consumption device begins and where the hydrogen tank can be removed. Specifically, it is the position where the hydrogen tank is inserted and fixed into the hydrogen insertion hole of the movable part of the detachment device of the detachment mechanism of the hydrogen consumption device by manual operation from outside the fuel supply system. The hydrogen supply stop position may be a position farther from the fitting part of the detachment device than the hydrogen supply standby position. Specifically, it may be a position where the first connection part of the hydrogen tank and the second connection part of the hydrogen consumption device are not connected, and the movable part and the fitting part are not in contact, making it impossible to lock with the lock pin. The position where it is impossible to lock with the lock pin means a position where the distance from the push rod to the engagement recess of the movable part is farther than the distance from the push rod to the lock pin in the moving direction of the movable part of the detachment device. The hydrogen supply standby position may be any position where the hydrogen tank and the hydrogen consumption device are not connected and the hydrogen tank is waiting for hydrogen supply so that the hydrogen tank can supply hydrogen to the hydrogen consumption device, or it may be a position where the first connection part of the hydrogen tank and the second connection part of the hydrogen consumption device are not connected, for example, a position where precise alignment for connecting the first connection part of the hydrogen tank and the second connection part of the hydrogen consumption device is initiated by control of a motor, specifically a position where the first connection part of the hydrogen tank and the second connection part of the hydrogen consumption device are not connected, the movable part and the mating part are in contact, and locking with a lock pin is possible. The hydrogen supply start position may be any position where the hydrogen tank and the hydrogen consumption device are connected in a state where the hydrogen tank can supply hydrogen to the hydrogen consumption device, and specifically, may be a position where the first connection part of the hydrogen tank and the second connection part of the hydrogen consumption device are connected by control of a motor.

[0037] [Control device] The control device is a device that performs control, etc., for connecting the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen consuming device. The control device is a device that performs control, etc., for connecting the first connection part (open / close valve, etc.) of the hydrogen tank to the second connection part (push rod, etc.) of the hydrogen consuming device. The control device may be configured to be able to communicate with the lock pin, stepping motor, various sensors, injector, and pressure gauge. The control device may include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) which is a processor that performs calculations, a RAM (Random Access Memory) which functions as a working area, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) which functions as a recording medium, a receiving unit which is an interface that accepts information into the control device regardless of whether it is wired or wireless, and a transmitting unit which is an interface that sends information from the control device to the outside regardless of whether it is wired or wireless. Therefore, the control device may be configured so that various sensors and pressure gauges are connected to the receiving section to receive information, and so that the lock pin, stepping motor, and injection are connected to the transmitting section to send signals to them for their operation. The control device may be an ECU (electronic control unit) or the like.

[0038] The control device may determine whether the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank is located at a predetermined position of the hydrogen consumption device based on the relative position of the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen consumption device detected by the proximity sensor. When the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank is positioned at a predetermined position on the hydrogen consumption device, the control device initiates mounting control to connect the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen consumption device so that the hydrogen tank can supply hydrogen to the hydrogen consumption device. If the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank is not positioned at the predetermined position of the hydrogen consuming device, the control device will not start the mounting control. The predetermined position means the position where the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank can be located when the hydrogen tank is inserted and fixed in the normal position within the hydrogen consumption device when the hydrogen tank is placed within the hydrogen consumption device (specifically, within the tank insertion hole of the desorption machine).

[0039] If the fuel supply system has multiple hydrogen tanks, the control device determines whether the hydrogen supply ports of the multiple hydrogen tanks are located at the specified positions of the hydrogen consumption device, and the control device starts installation control for only the hydrogen tanks among the multiple hydrogen tanks whose hydrogen supply ports are located at the specified positions of the hydrogen consumption device.

[0040] The control device controls the attachment and detachment of the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen consuming device. The attachment / detachment control includes detachment control and attachment control. The detachment control includes a disconnection process and a separation process. The disconnection step is a step of moving the hydrogen tank relative to the hydrogen consuming device from the hydrogen supply start position to the hydrogen supply standby position, thereby disconnecting the hydrogen consuming device from the hydrogen tank. The separating step is a step of moving the hydrogen tank relative to the hydrogen consuming device from a hydrogen supply standby position to a hydrogen supply stop position, thereby making it possible to remove the hydrogen tank from the hydrogen consuming device. The mounting control includes an approaching step and a connecting step. The approaching step is a step of moving the hydrogen tank from a hydrogen supply stop position to a hydrogen supply standby position relative to the hydrogen consuming device. By the approaching step, the hydrogen tank is placed in a position where it is ready to supply hydrogen to the hydrogen consuming device. The connecting step is a step of moving the hydrogen tank relative to the hydrogen consuming device from a hydrogen supply standby position to a hydrogen supply start position, and connecting the hydrogen tank and the hydrogen consuming device so that the hydrogen tank can supply hydrogen to the hydrogen consuming device.

[0041] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a fuel supply system according to the present disclosure. The fuel supply system 100 shown in Figure 1 includes hydrogen tanks 1 (upper tank 1a, lower tank 1b), a desorption machine 2, a stepping motor 3, a lock pin 4, a positioning hole 5, a push rod 6, an on-off valve 7, a spring 8, a check valve 9, a pressure sensor 10, a supply flow path 11, a movable part 20, a fitting part 21, a proximity sensor 30, and a control device 50. F indicates the positioning direction, and the dashed arrows indicate the flow of hydrogen. Hydrogen is supplied through the supply flow path 11 to a hydrogen consuming device (not shown). As shown in Figure 1, the hydrogen tank 1 is placed in the hydrogen supply stop position T with the on-off valve 7 of the hydrogen tank 1 and the push rod 6 in the fitting part 21 of the desorber 2 not connected, the movable part 20 not in contact with the fitting part 21, and the positioning hole 5 of the movable part 20 not locked by the lock pin 4. The proximity sensor 30 detects the relative position of the on-off valve 7, including the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank 1, with the hydrogen consumption device. The hydrogen tank 1 located at the hydrogen supply stop position T is inserted and fixed into the tank insertion hole of the movable part 20 of the desorption machine 2 at the position where the hydrogen tank 1 begins to be fitted into the fitting part 21 of the desorption machine 2 (attached to the desorption machine 2). The hydrogen supply stop position T is a position that is farther from the push rod 6 than the distance from the push rod 6 to the lock pin 4 in the direction in which the movable part 20 of the desorber 2 can move. As shown in Figure 1, the hydrogen tank 1 is positioned at the hydrogen supply stop position T with the opening / closing valve 7 of the hydrogen tank 1 and the push rod 6 of the desorption machine 2 not connected and the lock pin 4 not locked in the positioning hole 5. The position of the hydrogen tank 1 shown in FIG. 1 is also one of the positions at which the mounting control of the present disclosure starts.

[0042] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a state in which the hydrogen tank is placed at the hydrogen supply standby position W. As shown in FIG. 2, the hydrogen tank 1 is placed in the hydrogen supply standby position W with the on-off valve 7 of the hydrogen tank 1 not connected to the push rod 6 in the fitting 21 of the desorber 2, the movable part 20 and the fitting 21 in contact, and the lock pin 4 pressed against the positioning hole 5 of the movable part 20 by the spring force of the spring 8. The on-off valve 7 of the hydrogen tank 1 is not connected to the push rod 6 in the fitting 21 of the desorber 2, and the on-off valve 7 is in a closed state. The hydrogen tank 1 placed at the hydrogen supply standby position W is not fitted into the fitting portion 21 of the desorber 2 (attached to the desorber 2) and is in a detached state from the desorber 2.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a state in which the hydrogen tank is placed at the hydrogen supply start position S. In FIG. 3, the hydrogen tank 1 is placed at the hydrogen supply start position S, with the on-off valve 7 of the hydrogen tank 1 connected to the push rod 6 in the fitting 21 of the desorber 2 and locked in the positioning hole 5 of the movable part 20 by the lock pin 4. The on-off valve 7 of the hydrogen tank 1 is connected to the push rod 6 in the fitting 21 of the desorber 2, and the on-off valve 7 is in an open state. The hydrogen tank 1 placed at the hydrogen supply start position S is fitted into the fitting portion 21 of the desorber 2 and is attached to the desorber 2.

[0044] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the fuel supply system of the present disclosure. The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 shows an example of control in the case of the fuel supply system having two hydrogen tanks shown in FIG. STEP 1: A person inserts and secures two hydrogen tanks into the desorption machine: dcm1=dstp, dcm2=dstp STEP 2: The proximity sensor detects whether the tank is inserted and secured in the designated position on the demounting machine. ON / OFF detection for x_pxs1 and x_pxs2 STEP 3: A human pushes a button to start the installation control of the two hydrogen tanks: xh2sply=ON When both hydrogen tanks are inserted and secured in the designated positions of the detacher (x_pxs1=ON, x_pxs2=ON), operation with two hydrogen tanks is automatically performed (STEP 4~7). If only the upper tank is inserted and fixed in the specified position of the detacher (x_pxs1=ON, x_pxs2=OFF), operation with only the upper hydrogen tank will be performed automatically (STEP 4~7). If only the lower tank is inserted and fixed in the specified position of the detacher (x_pxs1=OFF, x_pxs2=ON), operation with only the lower hydrogen tank will be performed automatically (STEP 4~7).

[0045] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the continuation of the control of the fuel supply system of the present disclosure shown in FIG. STEP 4: If the hydrogen tank is detected as being inserted and secured in the designated position in the desorption machine in STEP 2, the following installation control is carried out. Stepper motor control start: xmot1=ON, xmot2=ON Unlocking with locking pin: xlck1=ON, xlck2=ON -The stepping motor moves the hydrogen tank from the hydrogen supply stop position to the hydrogen supply standby position: dcm1=dstb, dcm2=dstb Locking with locking pin: xlck1=OFF, xlck2=OFF Stop the stepping motor control and use the spring force to push the moving part of the demounter against the lock pin (lock confirmation): xmot1=OFF, xmot2=OFF The stepping motor moves the hydrogen tank from the hydrogen supply standby position to the hydrogen supply start position (at this time, the on-off valve and the push rod come into contact. The on-off valve opens due to the pressing force applied from the push rod to the on-off valve), and hydrogen supply begins: xmot1=ON, xmot2=ON, dcm1=dsply, dcm2=dsply STEP 5: Hydrogen supply STEP 6: After hydrogen supply is complete, a human pushes a button to start hydrogen tank release control: xh2sply=OFF STEP 7: The following desorption control is carried out for the hydrogen tank that was subjected to the attachment control in STEP 4. The stepping motor moves the hydrogen tank from the hydrogen supply start position to the hydrogen supply standby position (open / close valve: closed), and hydrogen supply stops. dcm1=dstb, dcm2=dstb Degassing of hydrogen piping Unlocking with locking pin: xlck1=ON, xlck2=ON -The stepping motor moves the hydrogen tank from the hydrogen standby position to the hydrogen supply stop position: dcm1=dstp, dcm2=dstp Locking with locking pin: xlck1=OFF, xlck2=OFF Stepper motor control stop: xmot1=OFF, xmot2=OFF

[0046] x_pxs1: Proximity sensor value (upper tank) ON: Tank insertion and fixation detection, OFF: Not detected x_pxs2: Proximity sensor value (lower tank) ON: Tank insertion and fixation detection, OFF: Not detected dcm1: Hydrogen tank location (upper tank) dcm2: Hydrogen tank location (lower tank) dstp: Hydrogen supply stop position dstb: Hydrogen supply standby position dsply: Hydrogen supply start position xh2sply: Hydrogen tank detachment control instructions xmot1: Motor control status (upper tank) ON: Start of control, OFF: Stop of control xmot2: Motor control status (lower tank) ON: Start control, OFF: Stop control xlck1: Lock pin status (upper tank) ON: Unlocked, OFF: Locked xlck2: Lock pin status (lower tank) ON: Unlocked, OFF: Locked

[0047] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a time chart when it is detected that only the upper tank in the fuel supply system of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 4 is inserted and fixed to a predetermined position in the detacher. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1 hydrogen tank 1a Upper tank 1b Lower tank 2 Desorption machine 3 Stepping motor 4 lock pins 5 Positioning holes 6 push rods 7 On-off valve 8 Springs 9. Check valve 10 Pressure Sensor 11 Supply channel 12 Control device 20 Moving parts 21 Fitting part 30 Proximity Sensor 50 Control device 100 Fuel Supply System

Claims

1. A fuel supply system having a detachable hydrogen tank, a hydrogen consumption device that consumes hydrogen in the hydrogen tank, and a control device, the hydrogen consumer has a proximity sensor; the proximity sensor is provided near a position where a hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank is present when the hydrogen tank is placed in the hydrogen consumption device; A fuel supply system, wherein the proximity sensor detects the relative position of the hydrogen supply inlet of the hydrogen tank and the hydrogen consuming device.

2. the control device determines whether the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank is located at a predetermined position of the hydrogen consumption device; When the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank is located at a predetermined position of the hydrogen consumption device, the control device starts an attachment control to connect the hydrogen tank to the hydrogen consumption device in a state in which the hydrogen tank can supply hydrogen to the hydrogen consumption device; 2. The fuel supply system according to claim 1, wherein the control device does not start the mounting control when the hydrogen supply port of the hydrogen tank is not positioned at a predetermined position of the hydrogen consuming device.

3. the fuel supply system includes a plurality of the hydrogen tanks, the control device determines whether the hydrogen supply ports of the plurality of hydrogen tanks are arranged at predetermined positions of the hydrogen consumption device; 3. The fuel supply system according to claim 2, wherein the control device initiates the mounting control for only one of the plurality of hydrogen tanks whose hydrogen supply port is located at a predetermined position of the hydrogen consumption device.

4. the hydrogen tank has a first connection part equipped with the hydrogen supply port, the hydrogen consuming device has a desorber; the detacher has a second connection portion, 4. The fuel supply system according to claim 2, wherein in the mounting control, the control device connects the first connection part of the hydrogen tank to the second connection part of the detacher.

5. the first connection portion is an on-off valve, 5. The fuel supply system of claim 4, wherein the second connector is a push rod.

Images