Hydrogen leak detection system

Abstract

To provide a hydrogen leak detection system that can efficiently detect hydrogen leaks from portable hydrogen generators. [Solution] The hydrogen leak detection system 1 according to the present invention comprises a portable hydrogen generator 11, a hydrogen detector 12 separate from the portable hydrogen generator 11, and a housing box 13 capable of housing the portable hydrogen generator 11 and the hydrogen detector 12. The hydrogen detector 12 measures the hydrogen concentration in the housing box 13 in which the portable hydrogen generator 11 is housed, and detects a hydrogen leak when the hydrogen concentration exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydrogen leakage detection system.

Background Art

[0002] A system for detecting hydrogen leakage in a fuel cell is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a fuel cell system that can accurately detect hydrogen gas leakage even when air is mixed in a hydrogen gas circulation system.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In recent years, portable hydrogen generators have attracted attention because hydrogen can be easily transported. On the other hand, since portable hydrogen generators are often loaded during movement, the risk of hydrogen leakage is higher than that of stationary devices. However, if a hydrogen concentration sensor is installed in a portable hydrogen generator for the purpose of monitoring hydrogen leakage, the sensor may malfunction due to the impact during movement. Therefore, there has been a demand for a technology that can efficiently detect hydrogen leakage in a portable hydrogen generator using a hydrogen concentration sensor separate from the portable hydrogen generator.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a hydrogen leakage detection system that can efficiently detect hydrogen leakage in a portable hydrogen generator.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The hydrogen leak detection system according to the present invention comprises a portable hydrogen generator, a hydrogen detector separate from the portable hydrogen generator, and a housing box capable of housing the portable hydrogen generator and the hydrogen detector. The hydrogen detector measures the hydrogen concentration in the housing box in which the portable hydrogen generator is housed, and detects a hydrogen leak when the hydrogen concentration exceeds a predetermined threshold. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The present invention provides a hydrogen leak detection system that can efficiently detect hydrogen leaks in portable hydrogen generators. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a hydrogen leak detection system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a hydrogen leak detection system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a hydrogen leak detection system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a hydrogen leak detection system according to the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. For clarity, the following description and drawings have been simplified as appropriate. In each drawing, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted as necessary for clarity. Furthermore, the right-handed xyz coordinate system shown in Figures 2 and 4 is for explaining the positional relationships of the components, with the positive z-axis pointing vertically upward.

[0010] First, the hydrogen leak detection system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described using Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the hydrogen leak detection system 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the hydrogen leak detection system 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the hydrogen leak detection system 1 comprises a portable hydrogen generator 11, a hydrogen detector 12, and a storage box 13.

[0011] The portable hydrogen generator 11 is a portable generator that generates electricity using a fuel cell. The portable hydrogen generator 11 is equipped with a fuel cell and a hydrogen tank, and generates electricity using hydrogen stored in the hydrogen tank as fuel. The hydrogen detector 12 is a sensor that detects hydrogen gas and is separate from the portable hydrogen generator 11. The housing box 13 is an enclosure capable of housing the portable hydrogen generator 11 and the hydrogen detector 12. The housing box 13 has an opening through which the portable hydrogen generator 11 can pass.

[0012] When detecting a hydrogen leak in the portable hydrogen generator 11, the portable hydrogen generator 11 and the hydrogen detector 12 are first housed in a housing box 13. The hydrogen detector 12 then measures the hydrogen concentration in the housing box 13 containing the portable hydrogen generator 11, and detects a hydrogen leak if the hydrogen concentration exceeds a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold can be, for example, 2000 ppm. In a hydrogen leak detection system 1 with this configuration, the hydrogen detector 12 is configured separately from the portable hydrogen generator 11, while still efficiently detecting hydrogen leaks from the portable hydrogen generator 11.

[0013] Furthermore, if a hydrogen leak occurs in the portable hydrogen generator 11, the hydrogen concentration in the containment box 13 will increase with the time spent inside. Therefore, it is preferable for the hydrogen detector 12 to measure the hydrogen concentration in the containment box 13 after a predetermined time (e.g., 60 seconds) has elapsed since the portable hydrogen generator 11 was placed inside the containment box 13. This increases the sensitivity of hydrogen leak detection.

[0014] Furthermore, because hydrogen gas is light and tends to accumulate at the top of the containment box 13, the hydrogen concentration is higher at the top of the containment box 13. Therefore, it is preferable for the hydrogen detector 12 to measure the hydrogen concentration above the containment position of the portable hydrogen generator 11 within the containment box 13. Specifically, by placing the hydrogen detector 12 at the top of the containment box 13, the hydrogen concentration above the portable hydrogen generator 11 can be measured. In such a configuration, the sensitivity of hydrogen leak detection can be increased.

[0015] Furthermore, it is preferable that the containment box 13 is formed to be airtight. By making the inside of the containment box 13 a sealed space, hydrogen is less likely to diffuse to the outside, so hydrogen leaks from the portable hydrogen generator 11 can be efficiently detected.

[0016] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, it is preferable that the upper surface of the containment box 13 has a top portion 131 that protrudes upward, and in this case, it is preferable that the hydrogen detector 12 measures the hydrogen concentration at the top portion 131 of the containment box 13. Specifically, by placing the hydrogen detector 12 at the top portion 131, the hydrogen concentration above the portable hydrogen generator 11 can be measured. In such a configuration, hydrogen tends to accumulate at the top portion 131, which can increase the sensitivity of hydrogen leak detection.

[0017] Furthermore, when the containment box 13 has a top portion 131, it is preferable that the top portion 131 is tapered. When the top portion 131 is tapered, hydrogen gas tends to concentrate more easily near the tip, thereby increasing the sensitivity of hydrogen leak detection. In this case, a smaller taper angle θ is preferable because it tends to result in a higher hydrogen concentration. Specifically, the taper angle θ can be 60 degrees or less.

[0018] Furthermore, it is preferable that the storage box 13 is made of a material with high hydrogen resistance, airtightness, fire resistance, or corrosion resistance. Specifically, stainless steel or a polymer with high hydrogen airtightness can be used as the material for the storage box 13.

[0019] Next, the hydrogen leakage detection system 2 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The hydrogen leakage detection system 2 can detect hydrogen leakage in a portable hydrogen power generator while filling the portable hydrogen power generator with hydrogen from an external hydrogen filling machine.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the hydrogen leakage detection system 2 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the hydrogen leakage detection system 2 according to the second embodiment. The hydrogen leakage detection system 2 is different from the hydrogen leakage detection system 1 in that it includes a pressure gauge 24 and a management device 25. In the description of the second embodiment, for elements that are the same as or directly correspond to the elements in the first embodiment, new reference numerals in the 20s with the same last digit or in the 200s with the same last two digits are assigned, and the description will be omitted as appropriate.

[0021] The pressure gauge 24 is a measuring instrument that measures the pressure of a hydrogen tank built into the portable hydrogen power generator 21. The management device 25 is a device that manages the data of the pressure gauge 24. For example, the management device 25 may be a computer having a storage device and capable of recording data, or may be a processor (CPU) capable of outputting data to an external device. Note that the pressure gauge 24 and the management device 25 may be housed in the housing box 23 or may be arranged outside the housing box 23.

[0022] In the second embodiment, the portable hydrogen generator 21 is connected to an external hydrogen filling machine 90 and filled with hydrogen. Further, when the hydrogen detector 22 detects a hydrogen leak while the portable hydrogen generator 21 is being filled with hydrogen, the management device 25 attaches a hydrogen leak flag to the data of the pressure gauge 24 and records it. In other words, the management device 25 records the behavior of the hydrogen tank pressure when filling the portable hydrogen generator 21 with hydrogen during a hydrogen leak separately from the behavior of the hydrogen tank pressure when filling the normal portable hydrogen generator 21 with hydrogen. By doing so, findings can be efficiently collected regarding the pressure change of the hydrogen tank during hydrogen filling in the portable hydrogen generator 21 during a hydrogen leak. Note that the hydrogen filling machine 90 may be housed inside the housing box 23 or may be arranged outside the housing box 23.

[0023] In addition, the data collected by the hydrogen leak detection system 2 can be utilized for the hydrogen leak determination of other portable hydrogen generators. For example, when filling a portable hydrogen generator with hydrogen, if the pressure of the hydrogen tank of the portable hydrogen generator shows the same behavior as during a hydrogen leak, it can be estimated that the portable hydrogen generator is experiencing a hydrogen leak. Thus, by utilizing this data, it becomes possible to accurately estimate a hydrogen leak without directly detecting the hydrogen gas.

[0024] Although described along with specific embodiments above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0025] 1, 2 Hydrogen leak detection system 11, 21 Portable hydrogen generator 12, 22 Hydrogen detector 13, 23 Housing box 131, 231 Top 24 Pressure gauge 25 Management device 90 Hydrogen filling machine

Claims

1. Portable hydrogen generator, A hydrogen detector separate from the aforementioned portable hydrogen generator, The system comprises the aforementioned portable hydrogen generator and a housing box capable of housing the hydrogen detector, The hydrogen detector measures the hydrogen concentration in the housing box containing the portable hydrogen generator, and detects a hydrogen leak when the hydrogen concentration exceeds a predetermined threshold. Hydrogen leak detection system.

2. A pressure gauge for measuring the pressure in the hydrogen tank built into the aforementioned portable hydrogen generator, The system further comprises a management device for managing the data from the pressure gauge, The control device, when the hydrogen detector detects a hydrogen leak while the portable hydrogen generator is being filled with hydrogen, records the data from the pressure gauge with a hydrogen leak flag. The hydrogen leak detection system according to claim 1.

3. The hydrogen detector measures the hydrogen concentration above the location where the portable hydrogen generator is housed within the containment box. The hydrogen leak detection system according to claim 1.

4. The upper surface of the aforementioned storage box has a top that protrudes upward, The hydrogen detector measures the hydrogen concentration at the top of the containment box. The hydrogen leak detection system according to claim 1.

5. The aforementioned storage box is formed to be airtight. The hydrogen leak detection system according to claim 1.

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