Flow channel opening / closing device

Abstract

The present invention provides a flow path opening and closing device that has a compact configuration while being capable of controlling the opening and closing of a flow path through which a low-temperature fluid flows. [Solution] The flow path opening and closing device according to the present disclosure is a flow path opening and closing device 23 provided in a flow path through which a low-temperature fluid supplied from a supply device 10 flows, and comprises a check valve 25 provided in the flow path and a valve 24 provided upstream of the check valve 25 in the flow path, the check valve 25 comprising a valve body seat 252 having a through hole that becomes part of the flow path, a valve body 253 that closes the flow path by contacting the valve body seat 252 from the downstream side of the flow path and blocking the through hole, and a spring portion 254 that presses the valve body 253 against the valve body seat 252, when a low-temperature fluid is supplied from the supply device 10 to the flow path, the valve 24 is switched to an open state, the nozzle tip 111a of the supply device 10 passes through the valve 24, and the flow path is opened by pushing the valve body 253 in and separating it from the valve body seat 252.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a flow path opening / closing device.

Background Art

[0002] In order to control the opening and closing of a flow path through which a cryogenic fluid such as liquid hydrogen or liquid helium flows, a cryogenic valve is used. For example, the cryogenic valve disclosed in Patent Document 1, that is, the flow path opening / closing device includes a valve body for opening and closing the flow path and an actuator for driving the valve body. When the temperature of the actuator falls below the minimum operating temperature due to the cryogenic fluid passing through the cryogenic valve, the actuator may not operate, and there is a risk that the flow path cannot be opened and closed. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the temperature drop of the actuator is suppressed by lengthening the rod connecting the actuator and the valve body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Regarding the flow path opening / closing device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the inventor has found the following problems. The flow path opening / closing device as shown in Patent Document 1 is large-sized. When increasing the flow rate of the supplied cryogenic fluid, there is a higher risk that the temperature of the actuator will fall below the minimum operating temperature, so it is necessary to further lengthen the rod, and the flow path opening / closing device becomes even larger-sized. Such a large-sized flow path opening / closing device has limitations in the installation location from the perspective of installation.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a flow path opening / closing device that can control the opening and closing of a flow path through which a cryogenic fluid flows while having a compact configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The flow path opening and closing device according to the present disclosure is a flow path opening and closing device provided in a flow path through which a low-temperature fluid supplied from a supply device flows, and comprises a check valve provided in the flow path and a valve provided upstream of the flow path relative to the check valve, wherein the check valve comprises a valve seat having a through hole that becomes part of the flow path, a valve body that contacts the valve seat from the downstream side of the flow path and closes the flow path by blocking the through hole, and a spring portion that presses the valve body against the valve seat, wherein when the low-temperature fluid is supplied from the supply device to the flow path, the valve is switched to an open state, the nozzle tip of the supply device passes through the valve, and the flow path is opened by pushing the valve body in and separating it from the valve seat.

[0007] In this manner, the flow path opening device opens the flow path by separating the valve body and valve seat due to the forward movement of the nozzle tip. Even if the flow path of the cryogenic liquid supplied to the flow path increases, the flow path opening device does not need to be enlarged. Therefore, a compact flow path opening device can be realized.

[0008] The check valve further comprises a nozzle seat provided upstream of the flow path relative to the valve seat and capable of contacting the nozzle tip, and a connecting pipe connecting the nozzle seat and the valve body, wherein the nozzle seat and the connecting pipe are provided with through holes that form part of the flow path, and the valve body is pushed in when the nozzle tip contacts and pushes against the nozzle seat, and the cryogenic fluid discharged from the nozzle tip may flow downstream of the flow path through the through holes provided in the nozzle seat, the connecting pipe and the valve seat.

[0009] The flow path opening / closing device is connected to a tank mounted on the vehicle, and the low-temperature fluid may be supplied to the tank via the flow path opening / closing device.

[0010] The flow rate of the cryogenic fluid may be controlled based on the amount by which the nozzle tip pushes the valve body.

[0011] As the nozzle tip separates from the nozzle seat, the valve body may be pressed against the valve body seat by the reaction force of the spring, thereby closing the flow path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The present invention provides a flow path opening and closing device that has a compact configuration while being capable of controlling the opening and closing of a flow path through which a low-temperature fluid flows. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cryogenic fluid supply system that supplies cryogenic fluid to a vehicle equipped with a flow path opening / closing device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the connection state of the flow path opening / closing device and the supply gun according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the flow path opening / closing device in the open state according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the flow path opening / closing device in the closed state according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a flowchart of a method for supplying low-temperature fluid using the flow path opening / closing device according to Embodiment 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The following describes specific embodiments of this disclosure in detail with reference to the drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, for clarity, the following descriptions and drawings have been simplified as appropriate.

[0015] (Embodiment 1) <Cryogenic Fluid Supply System> The flow path opening / closing device according to the present embodiment is provided in a flow path through which a cryogenic fluid flows. Examples of the cryogenic fluid include liquefied gases such as liquid hydrogen and liquid helium. In the following, an example in which the flow path opening / closing device according to the present embodiment is mounted on a vehicle will be described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the flow path opening / closing device may be provided in a factory and applied to a system that supplies a cryogenic fluid to equipment that uses the cryogenic fluid within the factory.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cryogenic fluid supply system including the flow path opening / closing device according to Embodiment 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a cryogenic fluid supply system that supplies a cryogenic fluid to a vehicle including the flow path opening / closing device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the connection state of the flow path opening / closing device and the supply gun according to Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the cryogenic fluid supply system 1 includes a supply device 10 and a vehicle 20.

[0017] The supply device 10 is provided in a so-called hydrogen station and is a device for supplying a cryogenic fluid to the vehicle 20. In the present embodiment, the cryogenic fluid is liquid hydrogen. The supply device 10 includes a supply gun 11.

[0018] When supplying liquid hydrogen to the vehicle 20, the supply gun 11 is connected to a supply port P provided in the vehicle 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the supply gun 11 includes a nozzle 111 for supplying liquid hydrogen. When supplying liquid hydrogen to the vehicle 20, the supply gun 11 advances the nozzle 111 toward the supply port P to insert the nozzle tip 111a into the vehicle 20. Then, the liquid hydrogen is discharged from the nozzle tip 111a. When the supply of liquid hydrogen is completed, the supply gun 11 retracts the nozzle 111 toward the supply gun 11 to store the nozzle tip 111a in the supply gun 11.

[0019] Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the vehicle 20 is an automobile (fuel cell vehicle) equipped with a fuel cell (FC: Fuel Cell) not shown. The vehicle 20 includes a liquid hydrogen tank 21, a pipe 22, and a flow path opening / closing device 23.

[0020] The liquid hydrogen tank 21 is a tank for storing the liquid hydrogen supplied from the supply device 10. The liquid hydrogen tank 21 is made of, for example, stainless steel and has a vacuum insulation structure. The temperature inside the liquid hydrogen tank 21 is, for example, -253°C or lower, and is maintained lower than the boiling point of liquid hydrogen. The upper part inside the liquid hydrogen tank 21 is filled with hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas obtained by vaporizing the liquid hydrogen stored in the liquid hydrogen tank 21 is supplied to the fuel cell.

[0021] One end of the pipe 22 is connected to the liquid hydrogen tank 21, and the other end is connected to the flow path opening / closing device 23 shown in FIG. 2. Liquid hydrogen is stored in the liquid hydrogen tank 21 through the pipe 22. The pipe 22 is covered with a heat insulating material to prevent the vaporization of liquid hydrogen due to the intrusion of heat from the outside. As the heat insulating material, for example, a plurality of alternately laminated aluminum or aluminum vapor-deposited films and glass fiber spacers are used, but it is not limited thereto.

[0022] The flow path opening / closing device 23 is provided in the flow path through which the liquid hydrogen supplied from the supply device 10 flows, and controls the flow of the liquid hydrogen. Hereinafter, the configuration of the flow path opening / closing device 23 will be described in detail.

[0023] <Configuration of the flow path opening / closing device> Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the flow path opening / closing device according to Embodiment 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the flow path opening / closing device in the open state according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the flow path opening / closing device in the closed state according to Embodiment 1. One end (outside the vehicle) of the flow path opening / closing device 23 serves as the supply port P, and when supplying liquid hydrogen from the supply device 10, the flow path opening / closing device 23 is connected to the supply gun 11. Note that the connection structure between the flow path opening / closing device 23 and the supply gun 11 may have an interlock function to prevent the connection from being released at an inappropriate timing. As shown in FIG. 3, the flow path opening / closing device 23 includes a valve 24 and a check valve 25.

[0024] First, the valve 24 will be described. Valve 24 is provided on the upstream side (supply port P side) of the flow path opening / closing device 23. In this embodiment, a ball valve with a ball valve body is used as valve 24 for ease of insertion of the nozzle 111 into valve 24, but it is not limited to this. For example, a gate valve or a butterfly valve may be used as valve 24. Valve 24 comprises a valve body 241, a ball 242, a rod 243, and an actuator 244.

[0025] The ball 242 is located inside the valve body 241, which is a cylindrical member. The ball 242 has a through hole. By rotating the ball 242 and changing the direction of the through hole, the valve 24 switches between an open state and a closed state. As shown in Figure 4, when the valve 24 is in the open state, the nozzle tip 111a passes through the inside of the valve 24 through the through hole of the ball 242. Therefore, it is preferable that the inner diameter of the through hole of the ball 242 is larger than the outer diameter of the nozzle 111.

[0026] The actuator 244 is connected to the ball 242 via the rod 243. The actuator 244 switches the valve 24 between an open state and a closed state by rotating the ball 242. Alternatively, a handle may be provided instead of the actuator 244, and the ball 242 may be rotated by rotating the handle.

[0027] When supplying liquid hydrogen from the supply device 10 to the liquid hydrogen tank 21, valve 24 switches to the open state shown in Figure 4. On the other hand, when the supply of liquid hydrogen ends, valve 24 switches from the open state to the closed state shown in Figure 3. By closing valve 24, leakage of hydrogen gas from the liquid hydrogen tank 21 to the outside of the vehicle 20 can be suppressed.

[0028] Next, we will explain the check valve 25. The check valve 25 is located on the downstream side (liquid hydrogen tank 21 side) of the flow path opening / closing device 23. The check valve 25 comprises a check valve body 251, a valve seat 252, a valve body 253, a spring portion 254, a nozzle seat 255, and a connecting pipe 256.

[0029] The check valve body 251 is a cylindrical component. The check valve body 251 is connected to the valve body 241. The valve seat 252 is an annular member having a through hole that forms part of the flow path. The valve seat 252 is installed inside the check valve body 251 and functions as a valve seat for the valve body 253.

[0030] The valve body 253 is housed within the check valve body 251 in a manner that allows it to move toward the valve seat 252 and toward the valve seat 252. As shown in Figure 3, the valve body 253 contacts the valve seat 252 from the downstream side of the flow path and closes the through-hole in the valve seat 252. In this way, the valve body 253 closes the flow path. By closing the flow path through contact between the valve body 253 and the valve seat 252, the check valve 25 can prevent, for example, the leakage of liquid hydrogen stored in the liquid hydrogen tank 21 to the outside of the vehicle 20 due to the shaking of the vehicle 20.

[0031] The spring portion 254 is located within the check valve body 251, downstream of the valve body 253. The reaction force of the spring portion 254 presses the valve body 253 against the valve body seat 252. For example, a coil spring, leaf spring, or disc spring can be used as the spring portion 254.

[0032] The nozzle seat 255 is provided within the check valve body 251, upstream of the valve seat 252, and in a position where it can contact the nozzle tip 111a. The nozzle seat 255 is an annular member having a through hole that forms part of the flow path. Furthermore, the nozzle seat 255 may have a taper on the inner diameter of its upstream surface to improve adhesion with the nozzle tip 111a. The check valve 25 can suppress leakage of liquid hydrogen from between the nozzle seat 255 and the nozzle tip 111a by improving the adhesion between the nozzle seat 255 and the nozzle tip 111a.

[0033] The connecting pipe 256 connects the nozzle seat 255 and the valve body 253. The connecting pipe 256 is a cylindrical member having through holes that form part of the flow path. The through holes in the connecting pipe 256 are provided not only in the center of the connecting pipe 256 but also on the sides of the connecting pipe 256 near the valve body 253. One or more through holes are provided along the radial direction of the connecting pipe 256. The downstream opening of the central through hole is sealed by the valve body 253. Therefore, as shown in Figure 4, liquid hydrogen flowing out from the through hole in the nozzle seat 255 flows downstream from the central through hole of the connecting pipe 256 through the side through holes.

[0034] <Operation of the flow path opening / closing device> The operation of the flow path opening / closing device 23, that is, the opening and closing operation of the flow path by driving the flow path opening / closing device 23, will be explained. When valve 24 is switched to the open state, the nozzle tip 111a can advance forward inside valve 24 toward the downstream side. After passing inside valve 24, the nozzle tip 111a comes into contact with the nozzle seat 255 inside check valve 25. Then, as the nozzle tip 111a advances further, it pushes the nozzle seat 255 toward the downstream side. As a result, the valve body 253, which is connected to the nozzle seat 255 via the connecting pipe 256, is pushed toward the downstream side. As the valve body 253 is pushed toward the downstream side, the valve body 253 separates from the valve seat 252, and the flow path is opened.

[0035] On the other hand, when the nozzle tip 111a retracts, it separates from the nozzle seat 255. Then, due to the reaction force of the spring portion 254, the valve body 253 is pressed against the valve body seat 252. The valve body 253 then blocks the through hole in the valve body seat 252, thereby closing the flow path.

[0036] As described above, the flow path opening / closing device 23 switches between opening and closing the flow path by the separation and contact between the valve body 253 and the valve body seat 252 due to the forward and backward movement of the nozzle tip 111a. Furthermore, the flow path opening / closing device 23 can control the flow rate of liquid hydrogen passing through the flow path based on the amount that the nozzle tip 111a pushes the valve body 253, in other words, the separation distance between the valve body 253 and the valve body seat 252. That is, the opening and closing of the flow path and the control of the flow rate are performed by the check valve 25 rather than the valve 24, and since liquid hydrogen does not pass through the valve 24, there is no need to enlarge the valve 24 to account for the temperature drop of the actuator 244 due to the liquid hydrogen.

[0037] More specifically, since the liquid hydrogen is discharged from the nozzle tip 111a after passing through the valve 24, it does not come into contact with the inner walls of the valve body 241 and the ball 242. Therefore, the effect of the liquid hydrogen on the temperature drop of the actuator 244 is less compared to when the liquid hydrogen flows through the passages within the valve body 241 and the ball 242 and comes into contact with the inner walls. Thus, since it is not necessary to lengthen the rod 243 to suppress the temperature drop of the actuator 244, the size of the valve 24 can be further suppressed.

[0038] <Method for supplying cryogenic fluid> Next, a method for supplying liquid hydrogen, which is a low-temperature fluid, using the flow path opening / closing device 23 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. Figure 5 is a flowchart of the method for supplying low-temperature fluid using the flow path opening / closing device according to Embodiment 1. The flowchart in Figure 5 starts with the supply gun 11 connected to the supply port P provided on the vehicle 20. After the flowchart in Figure 5 is completed, the connection between the supply gun 11 and the supply port P is released.

[0039] First, the flow path opening / closing device 23 switches the valve 24 to the open state (step S101). The actuator 244 rotates the ball 242, causing the valve 24 to open. When the valve 24 is open, the nozzle tip 111a can pass through the valve body 241 and advance into the check valve 25.

[0040] Next, the flow path opening / closing device 23 switches the check valve 25 to the open state (step S102). The nozzle tip 111a that has passed through the valve 24 comes into contact with the nozzle seat 255, pushing the nozzle seat 255 downstream. As a result, the valve body 253, which is connected to the nozzle seat 255 via the connecting pipe 256, is pushed downstream. The valve body 253 then separates from the valve body seat 252, and the flow path opens. Through these operations, the check valve 25 becomes open.

[0041] Next, the supply device 10 starts supplying liquid hydrogen (step S103). The liquid hydrogen discharged from the nozzle tip 111a flows downstream through the nozzle seat 255, the connecting pipe 256, and the through-holes provided in the valve seat 252. This liquid hydrogen is then stored in the liquid hydrogen tank 21. After discharging a predetermined amount of liquid hydrogen, the supply device 10 terminates the supply of liquid hydrogen (step S104).

[0042] Next, the flow path opening / closing device 23 switches the check valve 25 to the closed state (step S105). As the nozzle 111 retracts, the nozzle tip 111a separates from the nozzle seat 255. Then, due to the reaction force of the spring portion 254, the valve body 253 is pressed against the valve body seat 252. The valve body 253 then blocks the through hole in the valve body seat 252, thereby closing the flow path. Through these operations, the check valve 25 enters the closed state.

[0043] Finally, the flow path opening / closing device 23 switches the valve 24 to the closed state (step S106). After the nozzle tip 111a is retracted into the supply gun 11 as the nozzle 111 retracts, the valve 24 is closed by the actuator 244 rotating the ball 242, similar to how the passage was opened by the valve 24 in step S101.

[0044] As described above, according to the flow path opening / closing device 23 of this embodiment 1, switching between opening and closing the flow path is performed by the separation and contact between the valve body 253 and the valve body seat 252 due to the forward and backward movement of the nozzle tip 111a. Furthermore, the flow path opening / closing device 23 can control the flow rate of liquid hydrogen passing through the flow path based on the amount that the nozzle tip 111a pushes the valve body 253, in other words, the separation distance between the valve body 253 and the valve body seat 252. Thus, since the opening / closing of the flow path and the control of the flow rate are performed by the check valve 25 rather than the valve 24, there is no need to enlarge the valve 24. Therefore, a compact flow path opening / closing device 23 can be realized.

[0045] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1. Cryogenic fluid supply system 10 Feeding device 11 Supply Gun 20 vehicles 21 Liquid hydrogen tanks 22 Piping 23 Flow channel opening / closing device 24 valves 25 Check valve 111 Nozzles 111a Nozzle tip 241 Valve body 242 Ball 243 Rod 244 Actuators 251 Check valve body 252 Valve body seat 253 Valve body 254 Spring section 255 Nozzle Sheets 256 Connecting pipes P supply port

Claims

1. A flow path opening / closing device installed in a flow path through which a low-temperature fluid supplied from a supply device flows, A check valve provided in the aforementioned flow path, The system includes a valve provided upstream of the flow path relative to the check valve, The aforementioned check valve is A valve seat having a through hole that forms part of the aforementioned flow path, A valve body that closes the flow path by contacting the valve seat from the downstream side of the flow path and blocking the through hole, The valve body comprises a spring portion that presses the valve body against the valve body seat, When supplying the low-temperature fluid from the supply device to the flow path, When the valve is switched to the open state, the nozzle tip of the supply device passes through the valve, pushing the valve body and separating it from the valve body seat, thereby opening the flow path. Flow channel opening and closing device.

2. The aforementioned check valve is A nozzle seat provided upstream of the valve body seat and capable of contacting the nozzle tip, The system further comprises a connecting pipe that connects the nozzle seat and the valve body, The nozzle seat and the connecting pipe are provided with through holes that form part of the flow path. When the nozzle tip contacts and presses against the nozzle seat, the valve body is pushed in. The low-temperature fluid discharged from the nozzle tip flows downstream of the flow path through the through-hole provided in the nozzle seat, the connecting pipe, and the valve seat. The flow path opening and closing device according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned flow path opening / closing device is connected to a tank mounted on the vehicle. The low-temperature fluid is supplied to the tank via the flow path opening / closing device. The flow path opening / closing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The flow rate of the cryogenic fluid is controlled based on the amount the nozzle tip pushes the valve body. The flow path opening / closing device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. As the nozzle tip separates from the nozzle seat, the valve body is pressed against the valve body seat by the reaction force of the spring, thereby closing the flow path. The flow path opening and closing device according to claim 2.

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