Power supply device and vehicle

Abstract

To obtain a power supply and a vehicle capable of using hydrogen energy even in a vehicle other than a fuel cell vehicle.SOLUTION: A power supply device 10 includes a main body 52 that can be mounted on the roof of a vehicle, a tank insertion hole 52A formed in the main body 52 and into which a hydrogen tank 100 is detachably inserted, a fuel cell stack 54 that is provided in the main body 52 and generates electricity by supplying hydrogen from the hydrogen tank 100 attached to the main body 52, and output units 56 and 58 provided on the outer surface of the main body 52 and outputting electric power generated by the fuel cell stack 54.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply device and a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a hydrogen storage device for vehicles that can be easily attached to and detached from a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell system. Specifically, the hydrogen storage device for vehicles in Patent Document 1 includes multiple hydrogen tanks, a case that houses these hydrogen tanks, a regulator, and a quick connector that attaches and detaches the hydrogen tanks to and from the fuel cell system. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-270707 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the vehicle hydrogen storage device described in Patent Document 1 can only be applied to fuel cell vehicles equipped with a fuel cell stack, and there is room for improvement in order to make wider use of hydrogen energy.

[0005] In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a power supply device and a vehicle that are capable of utilizing hydrogen energy even in vehicles other than fuel cell vehicles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The power supply device according to claim 1 comprises a main body that can be mounted on the roof of a vehicle, a tank insertion hole formed in the main body into which a hydrogen tank is detachably inserted, a fuel cell stack provided within the main body that generates electricity by receiving hydrogen from the hydrogen tank attached to the main body, and an output unit provided on the outer surface of the main body that outputs the electric power generated by the fuel cell stack. The tank insertion hole is opened in the front part of the main body, and when the hydrogen tank is attached to the main body, the end face of one axial end of the hydrogen tank and the front face of the main body are flush with each other. .

[0007] The power supply device according to claim 1 has a main body that can be mounted on the roof of a vehicle, and a tank insertion hole is formed in the main body. A hydrogen tank is removably inserted into the tank insertion hole. A fuel cell stack is provided inside the main body, and the fuel cell stack generates electricity when hydrogen is supplied from the hydrogen tank attached to the main body. An output unit that outputs the power generated by the fuel cell stack is provided on the outer surface of the main body. This allows even vehicles that do not have a fuel cell stack to use the power generated from hydrogen filled in the hydrogen tank.

[0008] In addition, since the output unit is provided on the outer surface of the main body, the electric device can be used outside the vehicle by connecting the cord of the electric device to this output unit. Furthermore, since the hydrogen tank is detachable from the main body, power can be supplied simply by replacing the hydrogen tank. Furthermore, because the tank insertion hole is opened in the front part of the main body, the sides and rear of the main body are not restricted in design by the tank insertion hole, which improves the design when viewed from the side and rear of the vehicle.

[0009] A power supply device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the power supply device according to the first aspect, wherein the main body portion is formed with a plurality of the tank insertion holes.

[0010] In the power supply device according to claim 2, multiple hydrogen tanks can be attached to the main body. This makes it possible to supply more power without replacing the hydrogen tank, compared to a structure in which only one hydrogen tank is attached.

[0013] Claim 3 The power supply device according to claim 1 or 2In the fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack is configured to be able to supply electric power to a battery mounted on the vehicle.

[0014] Claim 3 In the power supply device according to the present invention, power is supplied from the fuel cell stack to the battery, thereby making it possible to extend the driving range of a vehicle that is driven by a motor.

[0015] Claim 4 The vehicle according to the present invention comprises a vehicle body, a carrier provided on the roof of the vehicle body, and a seat belt fixed to the carrier. 3 and a power supply device according to any one of the above.

[0016] Claim 4 In the vehicle according to the present invention, a carrier is provided on the roof of the vehicle body, and a power supply device is fixed to the carrier, so that electric power can be supplied from the power supply device to the inside and outside of the vehicle. Effect of the Invention

[0017] As described above, the power supply device and vehicle according to the present invention allow vehicles other than fuel cell vehicles to utilize hydrogen energy. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view of a vehicle equipped with a power supply device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a power supply device according to an embodiment, showing a state in which a hydrogen tank is removed. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which a hydrogen tank has been attached following the state shown in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The power supply device 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the arrows FR and UP shown in Fig. 1 indicate the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction and the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction, respectively, of the vehicle V on which the power supply device 10 is mounted. Hereinafter, when the directions of front / rear, up / down, and left / right are simply used, they refer to the front / rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the up / down in the vehicle vertical direction, and the left / right in the vehicle width direction when the power supply device 10 is mounted on the vehicle V, unless otherwise specified.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle V includes a vehicle body 12, and a battery 20 is mounted inside the vehicle body 12. The battery 20 stores electric power to be supplied to a motor (not shown) that is a power source for driving the vehicle V. When the battery 20 supplies electric power to the motor, at least one of the front wheels 22 and the rear wheels 24 rotates, and the vehicle V runs. That is, the vehicle V of this embodiment is, as an example, an electric vehicle (BEV: Battery Electric Vehicle). Since the vehicle body 12 has the same structure as a general electric vehicle, a detailed description of the vehicle body 12 will be omitted, but seats including a driver's seat and a passenger seat are provided inside the vehicle body 12, and the battery 20 is disposed under the floor of the passenger compartment.

[0021] Here, carriers 16 and 18 are provided on the roof 14 of the vehicle body 12. The carrier 16 is provided on the front portion of the roof 14, and the carrier 18 is provided on the rear portion of the roof 14.

[0022] The carriers 16 and 18 are elongated members extending in the vehicle width direction, and both ends of the carriers 16 and 18 in the vehicle width direction are attached to roof rails. The power supply device 10 is fixed on the carriers 16 and 18.

[0023] (Power supply device 10) As shown in FIG. 2, the power supply device 10 of this embodiment includes a main body 52, a fuel cell stack 54, and output sections 56, 58.

[0024] The main body 52 is formed in a flattened, generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, and its longitudinal direction is the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle when it is fixed to the vehicle V. An engagement portion (not shown) is formed on the underside of the main body 52, and the main body 52 is mounted on the roof 14 by engaging with the carriers 16, 18.

[0025] Two tank insertion holes 52A are formed in the front part of the main body part 52. The tank insertion holes 52A are formed side by side in the vehicle width direction, and each open in the front part of the main body part 52. Furthermore, each of the two tank insertion holes 52A extends inside the main body part 52 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and is shaped so that a hydrogen tank 100 can be inserted therein.

[0026] The hydrogen tank 100 to be inserted into the tank insertion hole 52A is formed in a generally cylindrical shape with a smaller diameter than the tank insertion hole 52A, and is filled with hydrogen. Furthermore, one axial end of the hydrogen tank 100 is provided with a handle 100A that can be held by the user, and by holding the handle 100A, the hydrogen tank 100 can be easily carried.

[0027] Hydrogen tank 100 is inserted into tank insertion hole 52A from the other axial end side opposite handle 100A. Furthermore, when hydrogen tank 100 is inserted into tank insertion hole 52A, the end face of one axial end of hydrogen tank 100 is approximately flush with the front face of main body 52 (see FIG. 3).

[0028] In addition, a recess (not shown) is formed on the peripheral surface of the hydrogen tank 100, and this recess engages with a lock pin (not shown) provided inside the main body 52, thereby locking the hydrogen tank 100 in the inserted state in the main body 52. ​​For example, after the insertion of the hydrogen tank 100 is completed, an operation button (not shown) provided on the outer surface of the main body 52 may be operated to cause the lock pin to protrude and engage with the recess of the hydrogen tank 100, thereby locking (locking) the movement of the hydrogen tank 100. In addition, for example, after the insertion of the hydrogen tank 100 is completed, the handle 100A may be grasped and rotated by a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction, thereby engaging the lock pin provided on the main body 52 with the recess provided on the hydrogen tank 100. Furthermore, the hydrogen tank 100 can be removed from the main body 52 by releasing the engagement between the lock pin and the recess. In this manner, the hydrogen tank 100 is removably inserted into the tank insertion hole 52A.

[0029] Here, a connector (not shown) is provided at the other axial end of hydrogen tank 100, and main body 52 is provided with a connection part that is connected to the connector of hydrogen tank 100. When hydrogen tank 100 is locked to main body 52, the connection part of main body 52 is connected to the connector of hydrogen tank 100, so that hydrogen filled inside hydrogen tank 100 flows from the connection part through piping (not shown) arranged inside main body 52 to fuel cell stack 54.

[0030] A fuel cell stack 54 is provided within the main body 52. ​​The fuel cell stack 54 includes a plurality of cells, and an electrolyte membrane is disposed between the positive electrode (anode, fuel electrode) and negative electrode (cathode, air electrode) of each cell. Hydrogen is caused to flow between the positive electrode and the separator on the positive electrode side of the cell, and air containing oxygen is caused to flow between the negative electrode and the separator on the negative electrode side of the cell, causing an electrochemical reaction to occur, thereby generating (generating) electrical energy.

[0031] On the outer surface of the main body 52, output units 56, 58 are provided that output the electric power generated by the fuel cell stack 54. Two output units 56, 58 are provided on the left side surface of the main body 52, and the cords of electric devices can be connected to each of the output units 56, 58. The output units 56, 58 are, for example, a power outlet and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, and are configured so that the cords of electric devices can be connected by removing the covers of the output units 56, 58. Furthermore, the front output unit 56 and the rear output unit 58 may be sockets of different standards.

[0032] In this embodiment, the fuel cell stack 54 and the battery 20 mounted on the vehicle V are electrically connected, and configured to be able to supply power from the fuel cell stack 54 to the battery 20. For example, the fuel cell stack 54 and the battery 20 may be electrically connected by connecting an end of a wiring connected to the battery 20 to a connector (not shown) provided on the roof 14, and then connecting a cord extending from the main body 52 of the power supply device 10 to this connector.

[0033] (action) Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0034] The power supply device 10 of this embodiment has a main body portion 52 that can be mounted on the roof 14 of the vehicle V, and a tank insertion hole 52A is formed in this main body portion 52. A fuel cell stack 54 is provided inside the main body portion 52, and the fuel cell stack 54 generates electricity when hydrogen is supplied from a hydrogen tank 100 attached to the main body portion 52. Furthermore, output portions 56, 58 that output the electric power generated by the fuel cell stack 54 are provided on the outer surface of the main body portion 52. This allows even a vehicle that does not have a fuel cell stack to utilize the electric power obtained from the hydrogen filled in the hydrogen tank 100.

[0035] In addition, since the output units 56, 58 are provided on the outer surface of the main body 52, by connecting the cords of electric devices to the output units 56, 58, it is possible to use the electric devices outside the vehicle V. Furthermore, since the hydrogen tank 100 is detachable from the main body 52, electric power can be supplied simply by replacing the hydrogen tank.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, multiple hydrogen tanks 100 can be attached to the main body 52. ​​This makes it possible to generate more electricity without replacing the hydrogen tank 100, compared to a structure in which only one hydrogen tank 100 is attached.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the tank insertion hole 52A is opened in the front part of the main body 52, the side and rear parts of the main body 52 are not restricted in design by the tank insertion hole 52A. This improves the design when viewed from the side and rear of the vehicle. For example, by making the appearance similar to that of a general roof box, it is possible to reduce the sense of incongruity with the power supply device 10. In particular, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, when the hydrogen tank 100 is attached to the main body 52, the end face of one axial end of the hydrogen tank 100 and the front face of the main body 52 in the power supply device 10 are flush with each other, so that the shape of the main body 52 is less uneven, and high design quality can be ensured.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by supplying electric power from the fuel cell stack 54 to the battery 20, the cruising distance of the vehicle V driven by a motor can be extended.

[0039] In this embodiment, carriers 16, 18 are provided on the roof 14 of the vehicle body 12, and the power supply device 10 is fixed to these carriers 16, 18. This allows power to be supplied from the power supply device 10 to the inside and outside of the vehicle. Furthermore, the power supply device 10 can be easily replaced. Moreover, the power supply device 10 can be easily retrofitted to a vehicle that does not have a power supply device 10 mounted thereon, simply by attaching the carriers 16, 18.

[0040] Although the power supply device 10 according to the embodiment has been described above, it is needless to say that the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the tank insertion hole 52A and the output units 56, 58 are provided on the outer surface of the main body 52 to provide a simple appearance, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a display may be provided on the outer surface of the main body 52 to display various information. In this case, the user may be able to know the amount of power generated by the fuel cell stack 54 and the remaining amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen tank 100 simply by looking at the display.

[0041] Also, in the above embodiment, the tank insertion hole 52A is provided in the front part of the main body part 52, but this is not limited to this. For example, the tank insertion hole 52A may be formed in the side surface of the main body part 52. In this case, the user can attach and detach the hydrogen tank 100 from the side of the vehicle V, thereby improving the efficiency when replacing the hydrogen tank 100.

[0042] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the fuel cell stack 54 is provided inside the main body 52, but in addition to this, a battery for storing the generated electricity may also be installed.

[0043] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the hydrogen tank 100 is configured to be removable from the main body 52 by the user himself, but this is not limited to this. For example, the hydrogen tank 100 may be configured so that it can only be replaced at a dedicated facility that handles hydrogen tanks 100. Examples of such facilities include gas stations, dealers, and repair shops.

[0044] In the above embodiment, a substantially cylindrical hydrogen tank 100 formed with a handle 100A is used, but this is not limited thereto, and the hydrogen tank may be formed in another shape. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the structure allows two hydrogen tanks 100 to be inserted in the width direction of the vehicle, but this is not limited thereto, and the structure may allow two hydrogen tanks 100 to be inserted in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0045] Furthermore, although the output units 56, 58 in the above embodiment are outlets to which cords of electric devices can be connected, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the output unit may be configured to include a cord extending from the main body unit 52. In this case, a connector may be provided at the tip of the cord that is the output unit. Also, by adopting a non-contact charging and supplying method, the output unit may have no outlet.

[0046] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the power supply device 10 is mounted on the vehicle V, which is an electric vehicle (BEV), but is not limited thereto. For example, the power supply device 10 may be mounted on a hybrid vehicle (HEV: Hybrid Electric Vehicle) using both an engine and a motor as drive sources, or the power supply device 10 may be mounted on a fuel cell vehicle (FCEV: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle). Also, the power supply device 10 may be mounted on a gasoline vehicle that does not include the battery 20 and uses an engine as a drive source. In this case, the power supply device 10 is not electrically connected to the in-vehicle equipment, and power is output only from the output units 56, 58. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 10 Power supply device 12 Vehicle body 14 Roof 16, 18 Career 20 Battery 52 Main body 52A Tank insertion hole 54 Fuel Cell Stack 56, 58 Output section 100 Hydrogen Tank V Vehicle

Claims

1. A main body that can be mounted on a roof of a vehicle; a tank insertion hole formed in the main body portion, into which a hydrogen tank is detachably inserted; a fuel cell stack provided within the main body and configured to generate electricity by receiving hydrogen from a hydrogen tank attached to the main body; an output section provided on an outer surface of a main body section and configured to output electric power generated by the fuel cell stack; having The tank insertion hole is opened at a front portion of the main body, A power supply device in which, when the hydrogen tank is attached to the main body, the end face of one axial end of the hydrogen tank is flush with the front face of the main body.

2. The power supply device according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the tank insertion holes are formed in the main body.

3. A power supply device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the fuel cell stack is configured to be capable of supplying power to a battery installed in a vehicle.

4. A vehicle body, A carrier provided on a roof of the vehicle body; The power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is fixed to the carrier; A vehicle having the above configuration.

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