Hydrogen supply system and hydrogen supply method
The hydrogen supply system efficiently transports and manages hydrogen containers using existing port cargo handling equipment, enhancing safety and reducing emissions by avoiding public road transport and integrating with container terminal operations.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023072374
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-04-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-05
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-03-18
AI Technical Summary
There is a need to efficiently and safely supply hydrogen to container terminals where no LPG supply source is available, which is crucial for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by using fuel cells on port cargo handling equipment.
A hydrogen supply system that transports hydrogen containers by ship from a hydrogen production facility to a container terminal, utilizing existing port cargo handling equipment to load and unload the containers, and manages their storage and distribution using a control mechanism.
Enables efficient hydrogen supply to container terminals, improving safety by avoiding public road transport and reducing traffic congestion, while allowing seamless integration with existing terminal operations and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a hydrogen supply system and a hydrogen supply method for supplying hydrogen to a container terminal, and more particularly to a hydrogen supply system and a hydrogen supply method that can improve the efficiency and safety when supplying hydrogen to a container terminal. [Background technology]
[0002] Various configurations of hydrogen production vehicles have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) is supplied from an LPG station, hydrogen is produced from the LPG, and hydrogen is compressed, and high-pressure hydrogen gas is supplied to a gas tank at the LPG station.
[0003] Meanwhile, there is a need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at container terminals where port cargo handling equipment such as quay cranes and gantry cranes are used, and studies are being conducted to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at container terminals by installing fuel cells on quay cranes and supplying hydrogen to these fuel cells.
[0004] Because there is no LPG supply source at the container terminal, the hydrogen production vehicle described in Patent Document 1 cannot be used, making it extremely difficult to supply hydrogen to the container terminal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-95020 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide a hydrogen supply system and a hydrogen supply method that can improve the efficiency and safety when supplying hydrogen to a container terminal. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] A hydrogen supply system for achieving the above object is a hydrogen supply system that supplies hydrogen from a hydrogen production facility to a container terminal, and includes a hydrogen container to be filled with hydrogen, a ship that receives hydrogen from the hydrogen production facility and transports the hydrogen filled in the hydrogen container to the container terminal, and port handling equipment that is located at the container terminal and handles the loading and unloading of the hydrogen container, and the port handling equipment has a first port handling equipment that is the target of the supply of hydrogen. and the first cargo handling equipment has a configuration in which the hydrogen container is loaded. It is characterized by:
[0008] A hydrogen supply method for achieving the above object is a hydrogen supply method for supplying hydrogen from a hydrogen production facility to a container terminal, in which a hydrogen container to be filled with hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen production facility is transported from the hydrogen production facility to the container terminal by a ship, and then loaded and unloaded by port handling equipment arranged at the container terminal, and the port handling equipment has a first port handling equipment to which hydrogen is to be supplied. and the first cargo handling equipment is configured to carry the hydrogen container. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]
[0009] According to the present invention, the loading and unloading of hydrogen containers can be carried out and managed in the same way as the loading and unloading of regular containers at a container terminal. This is advantageous for efficiently supplying hydrogen to a container terminal. Furthermore, because the hydrogen containers are transported to the container terminal without traveling on public roads, safety during hydrogen transport can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0010] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of a hydrogen supply system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a hydrogen container. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modified example of the hydrogen container. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modified example of the hydrogen container. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modified example of the hydrogen container. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modified example of the hydrogen supply system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Hereinafter, a hydrogen supply system and a hydrogen supply method will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.
[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the hydrogen supply system 1 has a configuration in which hydrogen produced in a hydrogen production facility 2 is transported in the form of hydrogen containers 3 to a container terminal 5 by a ship 4.
[0013] The hydrogen production facility 2 is a factory for producing hydrogen. The hydrogen production facility 2 is configured to produce liquid hydrogen or hydrogen gas and supply it to the ship 4. The hydrogen production facility 2 is preferably constructed in a location facing the sea. The hydrogen production facility 2 may be configured as a ship such as an FSO (Floating Storage and Offloading system) or an offshore facility such as an oil platform. The hydrogen production facility 2 is not an essential requirement of the invention.
[0014] The hydrogen supply system 1 includes a ship 4, which may be, for example, a container ship. The ship 4 is configured to transport hydrogen by sea from the hydrogen production facility 2 to a container terminal 5. The ship 4 transports hydrogen in the form of hydrogen containers 3 that can be loaded and unloaded in the same way as containers. The ship 4 is not limited to a container ship. The ship 4 may be configured to be able to transport the hydrogen containers 3. For example, if the hydrogen production facility 2 and the container terminal 5 are relatively close to each other, the ship 4 may be a barge towed by a tugboat.
[0015] As shown in Figure 2, the hydrogen container 3 can be configured as a tank container in which one tank 7 is fixed inside a frame structure 6. The hydrogen container 3 is configured to be the same size as a marine container, such as a 20-ft container or a 40-ft container, and is configured so that it can be handled using a container crane or the like.
[0016] As shown in Figure 3, the hydrogen container 3 may be configured such that multiple gas containers (cylinders) 9 are housed inside a regular container 8. For the sake of explanation, the container 8 is shown by a dashed line in Figure 3. The size and number of the gas containers 9 can be set as appropriate.
[0017] As shown in Figure 4, the hydrogen container 3 may be configured such that one or more curdles 10 are housed inside a container 8. The curdle 10 has a structure in which multiple gas containers 9 are placed inside a frame 11, and the gas containers 9 are connected to each other by piping or the like. For the sake of explanation, the container 8 is shown by a dashed line in Figure 4. The size and number of curdles 10 housed in the container 8 can be set as appropriate. The size and number of gas containers 9 that make up one curdle 10 can be set as appropriate.
[0018] As shown in Figure 5, the hydrogen container 3 may be made up of a single curdle 10 that is approximately the same size as a regular container 8. The frame 11 of this curdle 10 has the same size as the container 8 and is configured to be able to be handled by a container crane or the like.
[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the hydrogen supply system 1 includes multiple pieces of cargo handling equipment 12 arranged in a container terminal 5. The cargo handling equipment 12 is composed of equipment for handling ordinary containers 8. The cargo handling equipment 12 is composed of, for example, a quay crane 12a that is installed on a quay and handles containers 8 between a docked ship 4 and the container terminal 5. The cargo handling equipment 12 is composed of, for example, an on-site chassis 12b that handles containers 8 between the quay crane 12a and a storage lane 13. The storage lane 13 is an area where multiple containers 8 are stacked and placed. The cargo handling equipment 12 is composed of, for example, a gantry crane 12c that is arranged so as to be able to travel along the storage lane 13 and handles containers 8 between the on-site chassis 12b and the storage lane 13.
[0020] The port cargo handling equipment 12 is not limited to the above, but includes any equipment arranged in the container terminal 5. Also included in the port cargo handling equipment 12 is equipment arranged in the container terminal 5 that can handle the loading and unloading of containers 8. The port cargo handling equipment 12 also includes, for example, a top lifter, a forklift, and a straddle carrier.
[0021] The hydrogen supply system 1 may include a hydrogen container storage area 14 formed in the container terminal 5, in which hydrogen containers 3 are placed. The hydrogen container storage area 14 is an area in which multiple hydrogen containers 3 are stacked and placed. In order to enhance safety, ancillary facilities such as concrete walls 15 may be placed in the hydrogen container storage area 14 as needed. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a gantry crane 12c is disposed so as to travel along the hydrogen container storage area 14. The hydrogen containers 3 in the hydrogen container storage area 14 are loaded and unloaded by this gantry crane 12c.
[0022] The hydrogen containers 3 may be loaded and unloaded in the hydrogen container storage area 14 using a stacker crane. In this case, shelves each accommodating a plurality of hydrogen containers 3 are installed in the hydrogen container storage area 14. The hydrogen containers 3 placed on each shelf are loaded and unloaded by the stacker crane using forks or the like that move vertically and horizontally along the shelf. An automated warehouse equipped with a stacker crane may be constructed in the hydrogen container storage area 14. In this case, the hydrogen containers 3 are placed inside the automated warehouse, which is advantageous in terms of improving safety.
[0023] By using a stacker crane, the number of hydrogen containers 3 that can be stored vertically can be increased compared to when the hydrogen containers 3 are stacked. The area required for the hydrogen container storage area 14 can be reduced. This is advantageous in reducing the amount of concrete wall 15 required to improve safety. Furthermore, by reducing the area of the hydrogen container storage area 14, the amount of reduction in the area of the storage lane 13 where regular containers 8 are placed can be reduced.
[0024] From a safety standpoint, it is desirable that the hydrogen container 3 be placed in the hydrogen container storage area 14 in a state that is distinguished from other containers 8. The hydrogen container 3 may also be placed in the storage lane 13 where normal containers 8 are placed. In this case, the hydrogen supply system 1 is configured without the hydrogen container storage area 14.
[0025] The container terminal 5 may have an administration building 16. The administration building 16 is a place where workers who manage the container terminal 5 work. A management system 17 that manages the status of multiple pieces of port cargo handling equipment 12 may be located in the administration building 16. For the sake of explanation, the management system 17 is shown by a dashed line in FIG. 1.
[0026] The management system 17 is configured, for example, by a computer. The management system 17 has a configuration for grasping the position and working status of the port cargo handling equipment 12. The management system 17 may have a configuration for managing the positions and container numbers of the containers 8 placed in the storage lane 13. The management system 17 may have a configuration for managing the container numbers of the containers 8 to be loaded onto the docked ships 4. The management system 17 may also have a configuration for managing the identification of the ships 4 docking at the quay of the container terminal 5, the duration of docking, etc.
[0027] A hydrogen supply method using the hydrogen supply system 1 will be described below. As shown in the example of FIG. 1, first, a ship 4 receives a supply of hydrogen at a hydrogen production facility 2. At the hydrogen production facility 2, the produced hydrogen gas is filled into a hydrogen container 3. The hydrogen gas is filled into the hydrogen container 3 while pressurized to, for example, 90 MPa. The hydrogen gas pressure is not limited to this and can be set as appropriate. The higher the hydrogen gas pressure, for example, to 90 MPa or higher, the better the hydrogen transport efficiency. On the other hand, the lower the hydrogen gas pressure, for example, to 40 MPa or lower, the more the manufacturing costs of the tanks 7 and gas containers 9 into which hydrogen is filled can be reduced.
[0028] The hydrogen containers 3 filled with hydrogen gas at the hydrogen production facility 2 are loaded onto the ship 4. The ship 4 receives the hydrogen from the hydrogen production facility 2 in the form of hydrogen containers 3. The hydrogen supply facility 2 and the ship 4 may be connected by a hose or the like to supply hydrogen gas to the hydrogen containers 3 loaded on the ship 4. In this case, the ship 4 receives the hydrogen from the hydrogen production facility 2 in the form of hydrogen gas.
[0029] The hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen supply facility 2 may be liquid hydrogen. If cooling of the liquid hydrogen is required, it is desirable that the hydrogen container 3 be configured with a cooler or a refrigerating structure. In this specification, liquid hydrogen also includes methylcyclohexane obtained by chemically reacting hydrogen with toluene.
[0030] At the hydrogen production facility 2, the ship 4 receives a direct supply of hydrogen gas or liquid hydrogen or hydrogen supplied as hydrogen containers 3. The ship 4 then transports the hydrogen in the form of hydrogen containers 3 to a container terminal 5, which is the destination.
[0031] When the ship 4 comes alongside the quay of the container terminal 5, the quay crane 12a unloads the hydrogen container 3 from the ship 4. The on-site chassis 12b receives the hydrogen container 3 from the quay crane 12a and transports it to the hydrogen container storage area 14. The gantry crane 12c located in the hydrogen container storage area 14 places the hydrogen container 3 in the hydrogen container storage area 14.
[0032] The hydrogen containers 3 are handled by quay cranes 12a, on-site chassis 12b, gantry cranes 12c, etc. in the same way as regular containers 8. The hydrogen containers 3 are placed in a storage lane 13 or a hydrogen container storage area 14 by port cargo handling equipment 12. The hydrogen containers 3 can be stacked and placed in the same way as regular containers 8. The hydrogen containers 3 may also be handled by a top lifter, forklift, or straddle carrier.
[0033] Because hydrogen can be loaded and unloaded in the form of hydrogen containers 3, it can be transported using port cargo handling equipment 12, such as quay cranes 12a, that handles regular containers 8. The loading and unloading and management of hydrogen containers 3 can be carried out at the container terminal 5 in the same way as regular containers 8. Hydrogen can be transported efficiently by utilizing the existing facilities at the container terminal 5.
[0034] Compared to transporting hydrogen by vehicle such as a tank truck, transporting hydrogen in the form of hydrogen containers 3 by ship 4 is advantageous for increasing the amount of hydrogen transported.
[0035] The hydrogen containers 3 are transported by sea from the hydrogen production facility 2 to the container terminal 5. If the hydrogen production facility 2 is built in a location facing the sea, the hydrogen containers 3 do not have to travel on public roads at all. Because the hydrogen containers 3 do not or rarely travel on public roads, the safety of hydrogen transportation can be improved.
[0036] Multiple external chassis carrying containers 8 into and out of the container terminal 5 can cause traffic congestion near the container terminal 5. Because the hydrogen container 3 is brought to the container terminal 5 from the sea, it is not affected by traffic congestion and is not delayed in arriving at the container terminal 5. Furthermore, because the hydrogen container 3 is transported to the container terminal 5 via a route different from that of the external chassis, the impact on the traffic of the external chassis can be reduced.
[0037] The hydrogen supply system 1 can transport hydrogen using existing facilities at the container terminal 5, such as the on-site chassis 12b. Even if the on-site chassis 12b and gantry crane 12c are operated automatically at the container terminal 5, the hydrogen container 3 can be transported automatically in the same way as a normal container 8. This is advantageous for improving safety at the container terminal 5. If a hydrogen production vehicle, tank truck, or the like enters the container terminal 5 from outside, it may interfere with automatic operation or cause an accident.
[0038] When at least a part of the port cargo handling equipment 12 is equipped with a fuel cell and operates using hydrogen as fuel, it is necessary to supply hydrogen to this port cargo handling equipment 12. The following describes an example in which the first port cargo handling equipment 12 to be supplied with hydrogen is a quay crane 12a, and the second port cargo handling equipment 12 that transports the hydrogen container 3 to the first port cargo handling equipment 12 is a top lifter.
[0039] First, a top lifter, which is the second cargo handling equipment 12, transports a hydrogen container 3 from the hydrogen container storage area 14 to the quay crane 12a, which is the first cargo handling equipment 12. The top lifter replaces the used hydrogen container 3 that was loaded on the quay crane 12a with the unused hydrogen container 3 that it has transported. The hydrogen container 3 on the quay crane 12a is being replaced. At that time, workers also appropriately reconnect the hoses and the like that supply hydrogen from the hydrogen container 3 to the fuel cell on the quay crane 12a. The used hydrogen container 3 is transported by the top lifter to the hydrogen container storage area 14.
[0040] The second port cargo handling equipment 12 may be composed of an on-site chassis 12b. In this case, the quay crane 12a uses its own lifting gear to exchange the used hydrogen container 3 that was loaded on it for the unusable hydrogen container 3 that has been transported by the on-site chassis 12b. The on-site chassis 12b transports the used hydrogen container 3 to the hydrogen container storage area 14. The gantry crane 12c lifts the used hydrogen container 3 loaded on the on-site chassis 12b and places it in the hydrogen container storage area 14.
[0041] If the first port cargo handling equipment 12 has a lifting device for handling the container 8, such as a quay crane 12a or a gantry crane 12c, the hydrogen container 3 may be replaced using the lifting device itself.
[0042] The gas container 9 and the curdle 10 may be replaced for the first port cargo handling equipment 12 such as a quay crane 12a. In other words, instead of replacing the entire hydrogen container 3, the gas container 9 and the like contained in the hydrogen container 3 may be replaced.
[0043] For example, the curdle 10 may be removed by a forklift or the like from an unused hydrogen container 3 that has been transported on an on-site chassis 12b, and the curdle 10 may be loaded onto the quay crane 12a. Alternatively, the gas container 9 may be removed from the hydrogen container 3, and the gas container 9 may be lifted by a chain block or the like and installed on the quay crane 12a.
[0044] The hydrogen container 3 transported by the second port cargo handling equipment 12 may be connected to the hydrogen tank of the first port cargo handling equipment 12 by a hose or the like, and hydrogen gas may be supplied by differential pressure. In this case, neither the first port cargo handling equipment 12 nor the second port cargo handling equipment 12 may be configured to have a lifting device or the like for lifting the hydrogen container 3.
[0045] When the hydrogen container 3 is filled with liquid hydrogen, as in the case of hydrogen gas, either the hydrogen container 3 can be replaced or liquid hydrogen can be supplied via a hose, etc. When liquid hydrogen is supplied via a hose, etc., a power device such as a pump can be installed in the hydrogen container 3.
[0046] If liquid hydrogen is used as fuel, the cargo handling equipment 12 may have a converter that converts the liquid hydrogen into hydrogen gas. In this case, the hydrogen gas converted by the converter is supplied to the fuel cell. Using hydrogen gas as fuel eliminates the need for a converter in the cargo handling equipment 12, making maintenance easier. This reduces the cost required to switch the fuel of the cargo handling equipment 12 from diesel to hydrogen, as well as the periodic maintenance costs incurred after the switch. This is advantageous for reducing carbon dioxide emissions at the container terminal 5.
[0047] Even when the gas container 9 or the curdle 10 is housed in the hydrogen container 3, the gas container 9 or the like can be connected to the port cargo handling equipment 12 by a hose or the like to supply hydrogen gas or liquid hydrogen.
[0048] Hydrogen can be supplied to port cargo handling equipment 12 (first port cargo handling equipment 12) by port cargo handling equipment 12 (second port cargo handling equipment 12) that normally transports containers 8. Because the configuration uses port cargo handling equipment 12 to transport hydrogen containers 3, hydrogen can be supplied to multiple port cargo handling equipment 12 simultaneously. For example, while a ship 4 is docking, hydrogen can be supplied simultaneously and in a short time to multiple quay cranes 12a. This is advantageous for improving the cargo handling efficiency of the quay cranes 12a.
[0049] When the first port handling equipment 12 is a quay crane 12a or a gantry crane 12c, which is relatively difficult to move to the hydrogen container storage area 14, hydrogen can be supplied efficiently by using a second port handling equipment 12, such as an on-site chassis 12b.
[0050] The hydrogen container 3 can be transported at the container terminal 5 in the same way as the loading and unloading of a normal container 8. It is possible to supply hydrogen to the first port cargo handling equipment 12 without interfering with the loading and unloading operation of the normal container 8.
[0051] At a container terminal 5 where containers 8 are transported by automatic operation of port cargo handling equipment 12, the hydrogen container 3 can be transported to the first port cargo handling equipment 12 by automatic operation of the second port cargo handling equipment 12. This is advantageous for improving safety at the container terminal 5. If a vehicle driven by a worker enters the port cargo handling equipment 12 that is moving automatically, it can interfere with the automatic operation or cause an accident. The hydrogen supply system 1 can avoid such problems.
[0052] Simply securing a place to place the hydrogen containers 3, such as the hydrogen container storage area 14, makes it possible for the container terminal 5 to accept the hydrogen containers 3. If the hydrogen container storage area 14 is simply partitioned without installing any additional facilities, the costs required to introduce hydrogen as fuel can be particularly reduced. This makes it possible to gradually increase the number of port cargo handling equipment 12 that run on hydrogen fuel at the container terminal 5.
[0053] For example, if a hydrogen station were to be installed at a container terminal 5, it would require a parking space where the port cargo handling equipment 12 can wait while receiving a supply of hydrogen, underground tanks for storing hydrogen, and piping for transporting the hydrogen. This would significantly increase the cost required for introducing hydrogen fuel. First, even if two units of port cargo handling equipment 12 were to use hydrogen as fuel, it would be necessary to build a hydrogen station at great expense. This would hinder the widespread use of hydrogen fuel.
[0054] Hydrogen production and hydrogen gas compression are not performed at the container terminal 5. This is advantageous for improving safety at the container terminal 5. Furthermore, since the container terminal 5 does not need to obtain the permits and licenses required for hydrogen production and hydrogen gas compression, this is advantageous for promoting the widespread use of hydrogen fuel.
[0055] The used hydrogen container 3 is transported along the opposite route to the unusable hydrogen container 3. Specifically, the used hydrogen container 3 is transported to a hydrogen container storage area 14 by a second port cargo handling equipment 12. When the unusable hydrogen container 3 is transported by a ship 4, the used hydrogen container 3 is loaded onto the ship 4.
[0056] As shown in Fig. 6, the hydrogen supply system 1 may include a control mechanism 18. The control mechanism 18 is configured, for example, by a computer installed in an administration building 16. The control mechanism 18 may be incorporated into the management system 17, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, or may be installed independently of the management system 17.
[0057] The control mechanism 18 has an acquisition unit 18a that acquires the amount of hydrogen loaded on the port cargo handling equipment 12 as data. If hydrogen gas is filled in a hydrogen container 3 installed on the first port cargo handling equipment 12, such as a gantry crane 12c, the acquisition unit 18a may be configured to acquire the remaining amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen container 3 as pressure. If the hydrogen container 3 is filled with liquid hydrogen, the acquisition unit 18a may be configured to acquire the remaining amount of hydrogen in the hydrogen container 3 as the water level of the liquid hydrogen. The acquisition unit 18a may be configured to acquire information from sensors and the like installed on the port cargo handling equipment 12 via wireless communication.
[0058] The acquisition unit 18a may be configured to intermittently acquire the remaining hydrogen amount at predetermined time intervals, or may be configured to continuously acquire the remaining hydrogen amount for constant monitoring. The acquisition unit 18a may be configured to acquire the flow rate of hydrogen gas flowing into the fuel cell using a flow meter and estimate the remaining hydrogen amount from this value. The acquisition unit 18a acquires the remaining hydrogen amount for each of the multiple port cargo handling equipment 12.
[0059] The control mechanism 18 has an instruction unit 18b. When the remaining amount of hydrogen falls below a predetermined threshold, for example, 30% or less of the state before use, the instruction unit 18b instructs the second port cargo handling equipment 12, such as a top lifter, to transport the hydrogen container 3. The top lifter transports the hydrogen container 3 from the hydrogen container storage area 14 toward the gantry crane 12c. The top lifter may be controlled by automatic operation, or may be configured to be operated by a worker. When the top lifter is operated by a worker, instructions from the instruction unit 18b are displayed on the top lifter's work instruction monitor.
[0060] The acquisition unit 18a may be configured to acquire as data the amount of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen container storage area 14. The acquisition unit 18a may be configured to acquire as data the ratio of unused hydrogen containers 3 to the total number of hydrogen containers 3 placed in the hydrogen container storage area 14. The acquisition unit 18a may also be configured to acquire as data the number of unused hydrogen containers 3 placed in the hydrogen container storage area 14. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the hydrogen container storage area 14 does not have any ancillary facilities such as concrete walls 15.
[0061] The instructing unit 18b may be configured to instruct the ship 4 to transport the hydrogen containers 3 when the ratio of unused hydrogen containers 3 to the total number of hydrogen containers 3 placed in the hydrogen container storage area 14 falls below a predetermined threshold, such as 50% or less. Also, the instructing unit 18b may be configured to instruct the ship 4 to transport the hydrogen containers 3 when the number of unused hydrogen containers 3 placed in the hydrogen container storage area 14 falls below a predetermined number, such as 20 or less.
[0062] Instructions from instruction unit 18b are displayed on the work instruction monitor of ship 4. After moving to hydrogen production facility 2 and receiving a supply of hydrogen, ship 4 moves to container terminal 5. Container terminal 5 receives a supply of pre-used hydrogen containers 3 from ship 4.
[0063] In some cases, the first port cargo handling equipment 12 to which hydrogen is supplied may be an on-site chassis 12b or a top lifter that can be moved relatively easily in the container terminal 5. In this case, the first port cargo handling equipment 12 may be configured to move to the hydrogen container storage area 14 and receive the supply of hydrogen on the spot. In this case, there is no need for a second port cargo handling equipment 12 to transport the hydrogen container 3. Furthermore, hydrogen may be supplied by replacing the hydrogen container 3, or by directly supplying hydrogen gas or liquid hydrogen.
[0064] If the hydrogen supply system 1 includes a control mechanism 18, the acquisition unit 18a may acquire the amount of hydrogen in the first port cargo handling equipment 12 such as the on-site chassis 12b, and the instruction unit 18b may instruct the first port cargo handling equipment 12 such as the on-site chassis 12b to move to the hydrogen container storage area 14. The on-site chassis 12b receives a supply of hydrogen in the hydrogen container storage area 14.
[0065] The management system 17 may be configured to acquire the amount of hydrogen in multiple pieces of port cargo handling equipment 12. In this case, the acquisition unit 18a of the control mechanism 18 may be configured to acquire the remaining amount of hydrogen in the port cargo handling equipment 12 from the management system 17.
[0066] The management system 17 may be configured to manage the period during which the container ship is moored and has exclusive use of the quay (berthing schedule). In this case, the control mechanism 18 may obtain the mooring schedule from the management system 17, extract the period during which the ship 4 transporting the hydrogen container 3 can dock, and communicate information including this period to the ship 4 from the instruction unit 18b.
[0067] Hydrogen can be supplied to the port cargo handling equipment 12 by the port cargo handling equipment 12 that normally handles the loading and unloading of containers 8. In other words, hydrogen can be supplied by multiple port cargo handling equipment 12 managed by the management system 17. Vehicles that cannot be managed by the management system 17 will not travel within the container terminal 5 to receive a supply of hydrogen. This is advantageous for improving safety at the container terminal 5.
[0068] The management system 17 can grasp the current location and work status of the second port cargo handling equipment 12 that transports the hydrogen container 3. By obtaining information about the second port cargo handling equipment 12 from the management system 17, the control mechanism 18 can have the second port cargo handling equipment 12 perform hydrogen supply work at an efficient timing. The hydrogen supply system 18 can supply hydrogen to the first port cargo handling equipment 12 while suppressing a decrease in the efficiency of container 8 handling.
[0069] If the port cargo handling equipment 12 is controlled by automatic operation, the configuration may be such that the instruction unit 18b of the control mechanism 18 issues instructions to the management system 17. The management system 17 can instruct the second port cargo handling equipment 12, such as the on-site chassis 12b, to load and unload the hydrogen container 3, just as it does for loading and unloading normal containers 8. This is advantageous in improving the efficiency of loading and unloading the containers 8 and hydrogen containers 3, as it is possible to incorporate the transport of the hydrogen containers 3 into the loading and unloading of the containers 8. The port cargo handling equipment 12 traveling within the container terminal 5 can automatically transport the hydrogen containers 3, just like it does for loading and unloading containers 8. [Explanation of symbols]
[0070] 1. Hydrogen supply system 2. Hydrogen production facility 3 Hydrogen containers 4 Ships 5. Container Terminal 6 Frame structure 7. Tank 8 Containers 9 Gas bottles 10 Cardle 11 Frame 12 Port cargo handling equipment 12a Quay crane 12b In-house chassis 12c Gantry crane 13 Storage Lane 14 Hydrogen container storage area 15 Concrete Wall 16 Administration building 17 Management Systems 18 Control Mechanism 18a Acquisition Department 18b Instruction part
Claims
1. A hydrogen supply system that supplies hydrogen from a hydrogen production facility to a container terminal, a hydrogen container to be filled with hydrogen, a ship that receives a supply of hydrogen from the hydrogen production facility and transports the hydrogen filled in the hydrogen container to the container terminal, and port cargo handling equipment that is arranged at the container terminal and handles the loading and unloading of the hydrogen container, the port cargo handling equipment includes a first port cargo handling equipment to which hydrogen is to be supplied, A hydrogen supply system characterized in that the first port cargo handling equipment is configured to carry the hydrogen container.
2. A hydrogen supply system that supplies hydrogen from a hydrogen production facility to a container terminal, a hydrogen container to be filled with hydrogen, a ship that receives a supply of hydrogen from the hydrogen production facility and transports the hydrogen filled in the hydrogen container to the container terminal, and port cargo handling equipment that is arranged at the container terminal and handles the loading and unloading of the hydrogen container, the port cargo handling equipment includes a first port cargo handling equipment to which hydrogen is to be supplied, a hydrogen container storage area formed in the container terminal and configured to accommodate the hydrogen container; a concrete wall disposed in the hydrogen container storage area.
3. A hydrogen supply method for supplying hydrogen from a hydrogen production facility to a container terminal, comprising: The hydrogen container to be filled with hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen production facility is transported from the hydrogen production facility to the container terminal by ship, and then loaded and unloaded by port cargo handling equipment arranged at the container terminal, the port cargo handling equipment includes a first port cargo handling equipment to which hydrogen is to be supplied, A first hydrogen supply method characterized in that the port cargo handling equipment is configured to carry the hydrogen container.
4. A hydrogen supply method for supplying hydrogen from a hydrogen production facility to a container terminal, comprising: The hydrogen container to be filled with hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen production facility is transported from the hydrogen production facility to the container terminal by ship, and then loaded and unloaded by port cargo handling equipment arranged at the container terminal, the port cargo handling equipment includes a first port cargo handling equipment to which hydrogen is to be supplied, The hydrogen containers to be loaded and unloaded by the port cargo handling equipment are placed in a hydrogen container storage area formed in the container terminal, A hydrogen supply method characterized in that a concrete wall is pre-placed in the hydrogen container storage area.
Citation Information
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