Gas Supply Equipment

Abstract

To provide a gas supply device capable of improving accuracy in detecting gas leakage.SOLUTION: A gas supply device 1 includes: a double-structure gas filling hose 10 having an inner hose 101 and an outer hose 102; and a leakage gas flow passage 103 constituted of a clearance between the inner hose 101 and the outer hose 102 so that the gas leaking in the clearance flows to a gas detection sensor 7. The outer hose 102 is composed of a metallic material. The leakage gas flow passage 103 is spirally formed along a longitudinal direction of the gas filling hose 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gas supply device. [Background technology]

[0002] A known conventional gas supply device is equipped with a double-structure gas-filled hose having an inner hose and an outer hose, as described in, for example, the following Patent Document 1. In the gas supply device described in Patent Document 1, the end of the outer hose is connected to a gas detection sensor, and gas leaking from the inner hose into the gap between the inner hose and the outer hose is detected, thereby preventing gas leakage from the gas-filled hose. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-196295 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, because the above-mentioned gas-filled hoses are often made of resin materials, changes such as swelling of the resin material may occur or the inner hose and the outer hose may adhere to each other due to repeated pressurization and depressurization of the gas, deterioration over time, etc. This reduces the gap between the inner hose and the outer hose, making it difficult for gas leaking into the gap to flow to the gas detection sensor, resulting in a problem of reduced accuracy in detecting gas leaks.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problems, and has an object to provide a gas supply device that can improve the accuracy of gas leakage detection. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The gas supply device of the present invention is a gas supply device comprising a double-structure gas-filled hose having an inner hose and an outer hose, and a leakage gas flow passage formed by a gap between the inner hose and the outer hose for allowing gas that has leaked into the gap to flow to a gas detection sensor, wherein the outer hose is made of a metal material, and the leakage gas flow passage is formed in a spiral shape along the longitudinal direction of the gas-filled hose.

[0007] In the gas supply device according to the present invention, since the outer hose is made of a metal material, the reduction of the gap between the inner hose and the outer hose is suppressed, and the leaking gas flow path can be secured. In addition, since the leaking gas flow path is formed in a spiral shape along the longitudinal direction of the gas filling hose, the leaking gas can be smoothly guided to flow to the gas detection sensor. As a result, the accuracy of gas leakage detection can be improved.

[0008] In the gas supply device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the outer hose has a helical convex portion formed by applying a helical drawing process to a metal tube, whereby a helical leakage gas passage can be easily formed. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the accuracy of gas leakage detection. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a gas supply device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a gas filler hose of a gas supply device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the gas filler hose. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the gas filler hose. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the gas supply device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, an example in which the gas supply device is applied to a hydrogen station will be described, but the gas supply device of the present invention is not limited to hydrogen stations and can also be applied to the transportation of high-pressure hydrogen, the transportation of compressed natural gas (CNG), filling of natural gas, and other manufacturing and energy industries that handle high-pressure hydrogen.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a gas supply device according to an embodiment. The gas supply device 1 of this embodiment is, for example, a hydrogen station that employs an on-site system, and is a device for filling (in other words, supplying) compressed hydrogen gas to a vehicle M such as a fuel cell automobile or a fuel cell bus. As shown in Fig. 1, the gas supply device 1 includes a hydrogen production device 2 that produces hydrogen, a dispenser 6 that fills hydrogen into the vehicle M, a gas supply pipeline 11 laid between the hydrogen production device 2 and the dispenser 6, and a compressor 3, an accumulator 4, and a precooler 5 that are provided in the gas supply pipeline 11.

[0013] The compressor 3 compresses the hydrogen sent from the hydrogen production device 2. For example, the compressor 3 increases the pressure of the hydrogen sent from the hydrogen production device 2 to a level that allows the hydrogen to be filled into an on-board tank of the vehicle M. The accumulator 4 is a pressure accumulator that stores high-pressure hydrogen. The precooler 5 cools the hydrogen, for example, to about -40°C by circulating a refrigerant.

[0014] A gas detection sensor 7 for detecting gas leakage is provided inside the dispenser 6. The gas detection sensor 7 is electrically connected to the control unit 12 and transmits the detection result to the control unit 12.

[0015] The control unit 12 is configured, for example, by a microcomputer that combines a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes calculations, a ROM (Read Only Memory) as a secondary storage device that records programs for the calculations, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a temporary storage device that saves the calculation progress and temporary control variables, and controls each device that constitutes the gas supply device 1 by executing the stored programs.

[0016] For example, when a signal is received that emergency release coupler 8 (described later) has been disconnected, control unit 12 notifies the surroundings by activating alarm 13. Furthermore, when a gas leakage detection result is received from gas detection sensor 7, control unit 12 activates alarm 13 and controls gas supply valve 14 attached to gas supply pipe 11 to close.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 1, the dispenser 6 is connected to a gas filling hose 10 via an emergency breakaway coupler 8. In the event that a strong tensile force acts on the gas filling hose 10, the emergency breakaway coupler 8 separates the coupling portion and cuts off the gas supply, thereby preventing the high-pressure hydrogen from escaping. Therefore, if the vehicle M starts moving while hydrogen gas is being filled, the emergency breakaway coupler 8 comes off, preventing the hydrogen gas from escaping and maintaining the safety of the gas supply device 1.

[0018] The gas filling hose 10 is a pipe having a double structure, one end of which is connected to the emergency release coupler 8 and the other end of which is connected to a filling nozzle 9. The filling nozzle 9 is connected to a filling port (not shown) that leads to the hydrogen gas tank of the vehicle M when filling the vehicle M with hydrogen.

[0019] The gas filler hose 10 will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a gas filler hose of a gas supply device, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 2. The gas filler hose 10 is a double-structure pipe having an inner hose 101 and an outer hose 102. The inner hose 101 is a resin hose in which a flow path is formed through which hydrogen flows. The outer hose 102 is made of a metal material and surrounds the inner hose 101.

[0020] The inner hose 101 and the outer hose 102 are arranged with a gap therebetween. The gap between the inner hose 101 and the outer hose 102 constitutes a leaking gas passage 103 for allowing gas leaked into the gap to flow to the gas detection sensor 7. The end of the leaking gas passage 103 on the filling nozzle 9 side is sealed, and the end on the opposite side to the filling nozzle 9 side is connected to the gas detection sensor 7. That is, the gas detection sensor 7 communicates with the gap between the inner hose 101 and the outer hose 102 (in other words, the leaking gas passage 103). As a result, even if hydrogen gas leaks from any part of the inner hose 101, the leaked hydrogen gas flows to the gas detection sensor 7 via the leaking gas passage 103, making it possible to detect the leakage.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the leaking gas passage 103 is formed in a spiral shape along the longitudinal direction of the gas filler hose 10.

[0022] In this embodiment, the outer hose 102 is a metal flexible pipe obtained by applying a spiral drawing process to a metal tube. As a result, the outer hose 102 has a spiral convex portion 104 on its outer circumferential surface. The outer hose 102 has a substantially uniform pipe wall over its entire length.

[0023] In the gas supply device 1 of this embodiment, the outer hose 102 is made of a metal material, so that the reduction of the gap between the inner hose 101 and the outer hose 102 is suppressed, and the leaking gas flow passage 103 can be secured. In addition, the leaking gas flow passage 103 is formed in a spiral shape along the longitudinal direction of the gas filler hose 10, so that the leaking gas can be smoothly guided to flow to the gas detection sensor 7. As a result, the accuracy of gas leakage detection can be improved.

[0024] In addition to the above, various modifications of the gas filler hose 10 are possible.

[0025] 4, for example, a plurality of support pillars 105 for maintaining the space of the leaking gas passage 103 are provided between the inner hose 101 and the outer hose 102. The support pillars 105 are formed, for example, integrally with the inner hose 101. Furthermore, the support pillars 105 are not provided over the entire length or circumference of the inner hose 101, but are arranged, for example, at predetermined intervals so as not to impede the flow of leaking gas in the leaking gas passage 103. By providing the support pillars 105 in this manner, the leaking gas passage 103 can be more reliably secured.

[0026] 5, the outer hose 102 has a smooth outer wall, and the inner wall thereof is formed with a spiral groove 106. In this way, the spiral leakage gas passage 103 can be easily formed.

[0027] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention as described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1 Gas supply equipment 2 Hydrogen production equipment 3. Compressor 4 Accumulator 5 Precooler 6 Dispenser 7 Gas detection sensor 8 Emergency breakaway coupler 9 Filling Nozzle 10 Gas filling hose 11 Gas supply pipeline 12 Control section 13 Alarm 14 Gas supply valve 101 Inner hose 102 Outer hose 103 Leakage gas flow passage 104 Convex 105 Post 106 Groove

Claims

[Claim 1] A gas supply device comprising a gas-filled hose having a double structure including an inner hose and an outer hose, and a leakage gas flow passage formed by a gap between the inner hose and the outer hose, for allowing gas leaked into the gap to flow to a gas detection sensor, The outer hose is made of a metal material and has a smooth outer wall. A spiral groove is formed on an inner wall of the outer hose, the spiral groove extending in a longitudinal direction of the outer hose, The gas supply device according to claim 1, wherein the leakage gas flow passage is a space surrounded by an inner wall of the outer hose and an outer wall of the inner hose.

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