Hydrogen filling method

Abstract

To provide a method for filling hydrogen that enables proper hydrogen filling without installing a temperature sensor to a hydrogen tank (filling tank) for storing hydrogen and using the hydrogen.SOLUTION: A method for filling hydrogen into a tank includes the steps of: fitting a filling tank to a filling device; and controlling hydrogen filling to the filling tank from the filling device on the basis of a temperature sensor installed to a dummy tank.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for filling a hydrogen tank with hydrogen. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for filling a high-pressure tank with hydrogen. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-33069 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Cartridge-type hydrogen tanks place importance on portability, so they must be small in size. Although a sufficient amount of hydrogen can be filled by measuring the temperature inside the tank, it is desirable not to equip cartridge-type hydrogen tanks with a temperature sensor, both because they need to be small and because of the need to keep costs down.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present disclosure aims to provide a hydrogen filling method that enables appropriate hydrogen filling without installing a temperature sensor in a hydrogen tank (filling tank) that stores hydrogen for hydrogen utilization. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present application discloses a method for filling a tank with hydrogen, which includes the steps of attaching a filling tank to a filling device and controlling the filling of hydrogen from the filling device into the filling tank based on a temperature sensor provided in a dummy tank.

[0007] The filling device is equipped with a plurality of filling tanks, and the total hydrogen capacity of the filling tanks and the dummy tank can be set to a predetermined value or more.

[0008] After the filling of the filling tank and the dummy tank with hydrogen is completed, the filling tank may be removed from the filling device, an unfilled filling tank may be attached, and the hydrogen in the dummy tank may be transferred from the dummy tank to the unfilled filling tank.

[0009] The filling device is installed in a facility (e.g., a hydrogen station) for filling hydrogen into vehicles, and hydrogen can be filled into the filling tank at a time when there are no scheduled vehicle fillings based on the vehicle filling plan. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to properly fill hydrogen into a filling tank that does not have a temperature sensor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a hydrogen filling device 1 and a filling tank 30. As shown in FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the control device 15. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of the hydrogen filling method S10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] 1. Hydrogen filling equipment 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a hydrogen filling device 1 that supplies hydrogen to a filling tank 30. In this embodiment, the hydrogen filling device 1 has a dispenser 10 that ejects stored hydrogen from a nozzle 14, and a distributor 20 that is connected to the dispenser 10 and distributes and supplies hydrogen to the filling tank 30.

[0013] 1.1.Dispenser The dispenser 10 includes a pressure accumulator 11 in which hydrogen is sealed, a compressor 12 that compresses (pressure-boostes) the hydrogen released from the pressure accumulator 11 into a pipe, a hydrogen supply pipe 13 that guides the pressurized hydrogen from the compressor 12 to a nozzle 14, a nozzle 14 provided at the tip of the hydrogen supply pipe 13, and a control device 15 that controls the hydrogen supply. Hydrogen filling is performed by connecting the nozzle 14 to a device (receptacle) that has a hydrogen filling port of the hydrogen supply target (distributor 20 or a vehicle not shown). The components of the dispenser 10 can be any known components.

[0014] 1.2.Distributor The distributor 20 is a device that distributes hydrogen supplied from the dispenser 10 to the filling tank 30. In this embodiment, the distributor 20 has a pipe 21, a receptacle 22, a dummy tank 23, an on-off valve 24, a temperature sensor 25, and a pressure sensor 26. Each part will be described below.

[0015] 1.2.1.Piping The piping 21 is a piping that forms a flow path for flowing hydrogen from the dispenser 10 to the filling tank 30 and the dummy tank 23, and is a piping that branches off from the dispenser 10 side to each tank. The connection parts between the filling tank 30 and the dummy tank 23 and the piping 21 are detachable and are made up of fittings or the like.

[0016] The number of branches in the piping 21 (the number of connectable filling tanks 30) is not particularly limited, but the number of branches can be determined so that the expected total capacity, including the dummy tank 23, is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. More details are as follows. When the filling tank 30 is a cartridge type (a hydrogen tank with a portable capacity), it is small in size, with a hydrogen capacity of, for example, about 0.2 kg. On the other hand, the hydrogen tank of a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell has a large hydrogen capacity, and the equipment (dispenser) for filling this tank with hydrogen is designed to fill hydrogen tanks with large hydrogen capacities. Therefore, it is not possible to fill a single cartridge type filling tank 30 with hydrogen from a dispenser designed to fill hydrogen tanks with large hydrogen capacities. Therefore, by allowing multiple filling tanks 30 to be connected simultaneously as in this embodiment, the hydrogen filling capacity can be adjusted to the dispenser's intended capacity, and the dispenser for filling hydrogen into vehicles can be used to fill hydrogen into the filling tank 30. For example, if the hydrogen capacity of the filling tank 30 is 0.2 kg and the hydrogen capacity of the dispenser 10 is 2.0 kg, the piping can be branched so that a total of 10 dummy tanks 23 and filling tanks 30 can be connected.

[0017] 1.2.2. Receptacle Receptacle 22 is a member that is disposed at the end of pipe 21 on the dispenser 10 side to form a hydrogen filling port, and is detachably connected to nozzle 14 of dispenser 10. The specific shape of receptacle 22 is not particularly limited, and any known receptacle can be used.

[0018] Dummy Tank In this embodiment, the dummy tank 23 is a hydrogen tank that is detachably connected to the piping 21, and is a hydrogen tank that is used when filling hydrogen into the filling tank 30. Therefore, the dummy tank 23 does not necessarily need to be removed from the piping 21, and therefore does not need to be detachable from the piping. The structure of the dummy tank 23 itself may be the same as that of a normal hydrogen tank, and its hydrogen capacity is preferably about the same as that of the filling tank 30, which is a hydrogen tank for hydrogen utilization. Therefore, the dummy tank 23 typically includes a tank body, which is the portion for storing hydrogen, and a nozzle, which serves as an inlet and outlet for hydrogen to and from the tank body and to which the pipe 21 is connected.

[0019] The number of dummy tanks 23 is not particularly limited, as long as one or more are provided. For example, if there are a large number of connectable filling tanks 30, two or more dummy tanks can be provided. The location of the dummy tank 23 is also not particularly limited. However, from the viewpoint of simplifying the piping structure, it is preferable to place the dummy tank at the endmost piping branch.

[0020] 1.2.4.Shut-off valve The on-off valve 24 is an on-off valve arranged in the piping 21 between the dummy tank 23 and the filling tank 30, and when open, allows hydrogen to flow in and out of the dummy tank 23, and when closed, restricts the flow of hydrogen in and out of the dummy tank 23. The type of the on-off valve 24 is not particularly limited, and a known type can be used, and it may be manual or electric (solenoid valve). In the case of a solenoid valve, it is possible to receive information from the control device 15 of the dispenser 10, and the control device 15 can control the open / close state of the solenoid valve.

[0021] Temperature Sensor The temperature sensor 25 is a sensor that measures the temperature inside the dummy tank 23. Therefore, the temperature sensor 25 is arranged in the dummy tank 23 and is configured to be able to transmit temperature information to the control device 15 of the dispenser 10, so that the temperature information inside the dummy tank 23 can be used by the control device 15 for controlling hydrogen filling. The specific form of the temperature sensor 25 is not particularly limited, and any known type can be used. By providing the temperature sensor 25 in the dummy tank 23 in this way, it becomes possible to properly fill the filling tank 30 with hydrogen without providing a temperature sensor in the filling tank 30.

[0022] Pressure Sensors The pressure sensor 26 is a sensor that measures the pressure inside the distributor 20. In this embodiment, the pressure sensor 26 is arranged in the dummy tank 23, and is configured to be able to transmit pressure information to the control device 15 of the dispenser 10, so that the control device 15 can use the pressure information inside the distributor 20 for hydrogen filling control. Note that, although the pressure sensor 26 is arranged in the dummy tank 23 in this embodiment, the pressure sensor 26 is not limited to this, and may be arranged in the piping 21. The specific form of the pressure sensor 26 is not particularly limited, and any known form can be used.

[0023] 1.3. Installation of hydrogen filling equipment The hydrogen filling device 1 described above can be installed at a hydrogen station that fills hydrogen into the hydrogen tank of a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell, for example. By connecting the nozzle 14 of the dispenser 10 of the hydrogen filling device 1 to a receptacle on the vehicle, the vehicle can be filled with hydrogen, and by connecting the nozzle 14 to the distributor 20, hydrogen can be filled into the filling tank 30. This eliminates the need to install a separate dispenser just for filling hydrogen into the filling tank 30, thereby increasing the versatility of the equipment.

[0024] 2.Filling tank The filling tank 30 is a container for storing hydrogen, and the stored hydrogen is used for power generation in a fuel cell, etc. In this embodiment, the filling tank 30 is a cartridge-type tank, and has a smaller capacity than the hydrogen tank of a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell. For example, the hydrogen capacity of one filling tank 30 is 1.0 kg or less (approximately 0.2 kg). There are no particular limitations on the specific structure of the filling tank 30, and it is possible to apply any known structure that can be used as a hydrogen tank. Typically, the filling tank 30 is equipped with a tank body that stores hydrogen, and a nozzle that serves as an inlet and outlet for hydrogen in the tank body and to which the piping 21 is connected.

[0025] In this embodiment, it is preferable that multiple filling tanks 30 are connected to the hydrogen filling device 1, the number of which is as described above regarding the branching of the pipe 21. The hydrogen fillable capacities may differ among the multiple filling tanks 30, but from the perspective of filling hydrogen based on temperature information from the temperature sensor 25 of the dummy tank 23, as will be described later, it is preferable that the difference in hydrogen fillable capacities among the multiple filling tanks 30 is small (a difference of 0.05 kg or less) or that there is no difference at all.

[0026] 3. Hydrogen filling control 3.1.Control Device The hydrogen filling control may be performed by, but is not limited to, the control device 15. The control device 15 acquires and performs calculations based on the connection or non-connection between the nozzle 14 and the receptacle 22, the connection status of the filling tanks 30 (the number of filling tanks 30, the total fillable capacity, etc.), temperature information from the temperature sensor 25, and pressure information from the pressure sensor 26, and controls, for example, the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 24 and the start and stop of hydrogen filling. As conceptually shown in FIG. 2, the control device 15 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 15a, which is a processor and performs calculations, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 15b, which functions as a working area, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 15c, which functions as a recording medium, a receiver 15d, which is an interface that receives information into the control device 15, whether wired or wireless, and a transmitter 15e, which is an interface that transmits information from the control device 15 to the outside, whether wired or wireless. Therefore, the control device 15 is configured so that the temperature sensor 25, pressure sensor 26, and each device of the dispenser 10 are connected to the receiving unit 15d to receive information, and the solenoid valve 24 and each device of the dispenser 10 are connected to the transmitting unit 15e to send signals to the solenoid valve 24 to open / close and signals to start / stop hydrogen filling.

[0027] The control device 15 stores a program that processes information from the temperature sensor 25, pressure sensor 26, and various devices in the dispenser 10 to determine and operate the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 24, the start and stop of hydrogen filling, etc. In the control device 15, the CPU 15a, RAM 15b, and ROM 15c, which serve as hardware resources, work together with the program. Specifically, the CPU 15a executes the computer program stored in the ROM 15c in the RAM 15b, which functions as a work area, thereby operating the solenoid valve 24 and realizing appropriate hydrogen filling modes, such as the start and stop of hydrogen filling. Information acquired or generated by the CPU 15a is stored in the RAM 15b. Alternatively, a separate recording medium may be provided inside or outside the control device 15, and the program and various data may be recorded thereon.

[0028] In this embodiment, the control device 15 may store a database of hydrogen filling schedules using the dispenser 10. The hydrogen filling schedule may include the time for filling hydrogen into a vehicle, the planned amount of hydrogen, etc. The database may also be configured to store a schedule for filling hydrogen into the filling tank 30 at a time when hydrogen filling into a vehicle is not scheduled. In this case, the total amount of hydrogen that can be supplied by the dispenser 10 may be compared with all the planned filling amounts, and the control device 15 can calculate a hydrogen supply plan by assigning priorities so that the total amount of hydrogen that can be supplied does not exceed all the planned filling amounts. This will reduce unevenness in the use of dispensers and make it possible to level out hydrogen filling, allowing for hydrogen filling with high equipment utilization efficiency.

[0029] The control device 15 as described above can typically be configured by a computer.

[0030] 3.2. Hydrogen Refueling Method Figure 3 shows the flow of one example of a hydrogen filling method S10. As can be seen from Figure 3, the hydrogen filling method S10 includes steps S11 to S19. Each step is explained below. Note that, before step S11, the nozzle 14 of the dispenser 10 and the receptacle 22 of the distributor 20 are not connected, the filling tank 30 is not connected to the distributor 20, the dummy tank 23 has already been filled with hydrogen and is connected to the piping, and the on-off valve 24 is closed.

[0031] 3.2.1.Process S11 In step S11, the filling tank 30 not yet filled with hydrogen is connected (attached) to the pipe 21 of the distributor 20. This allows hydrogen to flow into (fill) the filling tank 30 through the pipe 21.

[0032] 3.2.2.Process S12 In step S12, the on-off valve 24 is opened, causing at least a portion of the hydrogen filled in the dummy tank 23 to flow into and be distributed in the filling tank 30. This allows the hydrogen filled in the dummy tank 23 to be used without being discarded, thereby reducing waste.

[0033] 3.2.3.Process S13 In step S13, the nozzle 14 of the dispenser 10 is connected to the receptacle 22 of the distributor 20. This ensures a flow path for supplying hydrogen from the dispenser 10 to the filling tank 30 via the distributor 20.

[0034] 3.2.4.Process S14 In step S14, the filling of hydrogen from the dispenser 10 into the filling tank 30 begins. The filling of hydrogen may be started automatically by calculation by the control device 15 when the connection is made in step S13, or may be started by a person operating a separately provided switch or the like.

[0035] 3.2.5.Process S15 In step S15, the temperature and pressure values ​​are acquired from the temperature sensor 25 and the pressure sensor 26 provided in the dummy tank 23. In this embodiment, the acquired temperature and pressure values ​​are received by the control device 15.

[0036] 3.2.6.Process S16 In step S16, it is determined from the temperature and pressure values ​​acquired in step S15 whether the filling tank 30 is full of hydrogen (a state in which sufficient hydrogen is filled relative to the capacity). As described above, in this embodiment, the filling state of the filling tank 30 can be obtained from the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 25 provided in the dummy tank 23, so there is no need to provide a temperature sensor in the filling tank 30. In this embodiment, the determination in step S16 can be made by the control device 15. Specifically, the control device 15 stores a database containing the relationship between the temperature (and pressure, if necessary) inside the dummy tank and the amount of hydrogen filled, and the control device 15 makes the determination using this database.

[0037] If it is determined in step S16 that the filling tank 30 is full, the answer is Yes and the process proceeds to step S17. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S16 that the filling tank 30 is not yet full, the answer is No, hydrogen filling is maintained, and the process returns to step S15 to again acquire the temperature and pressure.

[0038] 3.2.7.Process S17 In step S17, since it is determined in step S16 that the filling tank 30 is full, the filling of hydrogen is stopped. The stopping of the filling of hydrogen can be performed by the control device 15 making a decision and issuing a command to the dispenser 10.

[0039] 3.2.8.Process S18 In step S18, the on-off valve 24 is closed. This allows the hydrogen filled in the dummy tank 23 to be maintained within the dummy tank 23, and the next time the on-off valve 24 is opened as in step S12, hydrogen can be distributed to the unfilled filling tank 30.

[0040] 3.2.9.Process S19 In step S19, the filling tank 30 filled with hydrogen is detached from the pipe 21 of the distributor 20.

[0041] 4. Effects etc. According to the above embodiment, when filling the filling tank with hydrogen, filling from the hydrogen filling device is controlled based on a temperature sensor provided in the dummy tank, so that hydrogen can be properly filled into the filling tank without providing a temperature sensor in the filling tank.

[0042] After attaching an unfilled filling tank to a hydrogen filling device, the hydrogen stored in the dummy tank, which was filled on a previous occasion, can be distributed to the unfilled filling tank, thereby making effective use of the hydrogen stored in the dummy tank and reducing waste.

[0043] Furthermore, if multiple cartridge-type (small-capacity hydrogen tanks) filling tanks are installed in the hydrogen filling device and, together with the dummy tank, a capacity of more than a specified amount is ensured, a dispenser designed for filling large-capacity hydrogen tanks, such as those found in fuel cell vehicles, can be used, thereby increasing the versatility of the device.

[0044] If the hydrogen filling device is installed at a hydrogen station that fills fuel cell vehicles with hydrogen, hydrogen can be filled into the filling tank based on the filling schedule when there are no plans to fill vehicles with hydrogen.This means that gas filling can be leveled out from the perspective of hydrogen station usage, and the utilization efficiency of the equipment can be improved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1 Hydrogen filling equipment 10 Dispenser 20 distributor 23 Dummy Tank 25 Temperature Sensor

Claims

1. A method for filling a tank with hydrogen, comprising the steps of: Mounting the filling tank on a filling device; and a step of controlling hydrogen filling from the filling device into the filling tank based on a temperature sensor provided in the dummy tank, After the filling of the filling tank and the dummy tank with hydrogen is completed, the filling tank is removed from the filling device, an unfilled filling tank is attached, and then the hydrogen in the dummy tank is transferred from the dummy tank to the unfilled filling tank. How to fill hydrogen.

2. 2. The hydrogen filling method according to claim 1, wherein the filling device is equipped with a plurality of filling tanks, and the total hydrogen capacity of the filling tanks and the dummy tank is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

3. 3. The hydrogen filling method according to claim 1, wherein the filling device is provided in equipment for filling hydrogen into vehicles, and the filling of the filling tank with hydrogen is carried out at a time when there is no scheduled filling of the vehicle based on a filling plan for the vehicle.

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