Method for starting a hydrogen supply system and method for starting a hydrogen engine vehicle

Abstract

To provide a hydrogen supply device that enables easy initial start of a hydrogen engine.SOLUTION: A hydrogen supply device 30 has a liquid hydrogen pump 32 that pressurizes liquid hydrogen stored in a liquid hydrogen tank 31, a vaporizer 37 that converts the liquid hydrogen discharged from the liquid hydrogen pump 32 into hydrogen gas, and a pressure chamber 45 that is filled with hydrogen gas flowing out from the vaporizer 37 and supplies the filled hydrogen gas to a hydrogen engine 10. The hydrogen supply device comprises a hydrogen gas filling port 49 that fills the pressure chamber 45 with hydrogen gas from an external hydrogen gas source.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the structure of a hydrogen supply device that supplies hydrogen gas to a hydrogen engine, and the structure of a hydrogen engine vehicle equipped with the hydrogen supply device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a hydrogen supply device including a liquid hydrogen tank, a hydrogen pump, an evaporator, and a pressure hydrogen tank. In this hydrogen supply device, the liquid hydrogen stored in the liquid hydrogen tank is pressurized by the hydrogen pump and then vaporized by the evaporator to store hydrogen gas in the pressure hydrogen tank, and the hydrogen gas stored in the pressure hydrogen tank is supplied to a fuel cell. The hydrogen supply device described in Patent Document 1 vaporizes liquid hydrogen using the cooling water whose temperature has risen by refluxing the fuel cell for vehicle driving. Therefore, at the initial startup of the fuel cell, it is necessary to vaporize the liquid hydrogen by an external heat source, and the initial startup of the fuel cell has been complicated.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in recent years, hydrogen engine vehicles equipped with hydrogen engines that directly burn hydrogen gas instead of gasoline have been used. In hydrogen engine vehicles, a hydrogen supply device that vaporizes the liquid hydrogen stored in a liquid hydrogen tank by the heat of the hydrogen engine and supplies it to the hydrogen engine is often used. In this hydrogen supply device, when the hydrogen engine is initially started in a cold state, it is necessary to vaporize the liquid hydrogen by an external heat source, and the operation has been complicated.

[0005] Therefore, the present disclosure is easy First to start a hydrogen supply device at the beginning How to start it The purpose is to provide. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Hydrogen supply device of the present disclosure How to start it This system includes a liquid hydrogen pump that pressurizes the liquid hydrogen stored in a liquid hydrogen tank, a vaporizer that converts the liquid hydrogen discharged from the liquid hydrogen pump into hydrogen gas, and a pressure chamber into which the hydrogen gas flowing out of the vaporizer is filled and which supplies the filled hydrogen gas to the hydrogen engine. And, previously A hydrogen gas filling port for filling the pressure chamber with hydrogen gas from an external hydrogen gas source. and, Hydrogen supply system equipped with A starting method for a hydrogen engine, characterized in that the hydrogen gas source is connected to the hydrogen gas filling port and hydrogen gas is filled into the pressure chamber from the hydrogen gas source until the pressure in the pressure chamber exceeds the hydrogen supply pressure to the hydrogen engine, then the hydrogen gas source is removed from the hydrogen gas filling port and the hydrogen gas stored in the pressure chamber is supplied to the hydrogen engine to start the hydrogen engine, and the heat from the hydrogen engine is supplied to the vaporizer to convert liquid hydrogen into hydrogen gas.

[0007] This makes it easy to hydrogen feeding device It can perform the initial startup.

[0008] Hydrogen supply device of the present disclosure In the starting method, The system includes a hydrogen gas supply pipe connecting the vaporizer and the hydrogen engine, the pressure chamber being connected to the hydrogen gas supply pipe, and the hydrogen gas filling port being attached to the hydrogen gas supply pipe between the pressure chamber and the hydrogen engine.

[0009] This allows hydrogen gas to be filled into the pressure chamber from a location away from the pressure chamber itself.

[0010] Hydrogen engine vehicle of this disclosure How to start it A hydrogen engine vehicle comprising a hydrogen engine for vehicle propulsion and a hydrogen supply device for supplying hydrogen gas to the hydrogen engine. How to start it The hydrogen supply device comprises a liquid hydrogen pump for pressurizing liquid hydrogen stored in a liquid hydrogen tank, a vaporizer for converting the liquid hydrogen discharged from the liquid hydrogen pump into hydrogen gas, a pressure chamber filled with hydrogen gas flowing out of the vaporizer and supplied to the hydrogen engine, and a hydrogen gas filling port for filling the pressure chamber with hydrogen gas from an external hydrogen gas source. The hydrogen gas source is connected to the hydrogen gas filling port, and hydrogen gas is filled into the pressure chamber from the hydrogen gas source until the pressure in the pressure chamber exceeds the hydrogen supply pressure to the hydrogen engine. Then, the hydrogen gas source is removed from the hydrogen gas filling port, and the hydrogen gas stored in the pressure chamber is supplied to the hydrogen engine to start the hydrogen engine. The heat from the hydrogen engine is then supplied to the vaporizer to convert liquid hydrogen into hydrogen gas. It is characterized by the following.

[0011] Hydrogen engine vehicle of this disclosure How to start it In this configuration, the hydrogen supply device includes a hydrogen gas supply pipe connecting the vaporizer and the hydrogen engine, the pressure chamber is connected to the hydrogen gas supply pipe, and the hydrogen gas filling port may be attached to the hydrogen gas supply pipe between the pressure chamber and the hydrogen engine. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] This disclosure is easily First Hydrogen supply system capable of early start-up How to start it We can provide this. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the configuration of a hydrogen engine vehicle equipped with a hydrogen supply system. [Figure 2] This is a system diagram showing the configuration of the hydrogen supply system. [Figure 3] This is a system diagram showing the configuration of the hydrogen supply system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Please refer to the drawings below. water A hydrogen supply device 30 and a hydrogen engine vehicle 100 equipped with the hydrogen supply device 30 will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the hydrogen engine vehicle 100 is equipped with a hydrogen engine 10 for vehicle propulsion and a hydrogen supply device 30. In Figure 1, thick solid lines indicate liquid flow paths, and double lines indicate gas flow paths.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the hydrogen engine 10 is a reciprocating internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders 11 and pistons 12 that move up and down within the cylinders 11, and has the same structure as a gasoline engine. In FIG. 1, only one of the plurality of cylinders 11 is illustrated. An intake port 13 through which air flows into the interior of the cylinder 11 and an exhaust port 14 for discharging combustion gas within the cylinder 11 are provided at the upper portion of the cylinder 11. An intake valve 15 and an exhaust valve 16 are attached to the intake port 13 and the exhaust port 14, respectively. An injector 17 for injecting hydrogen gas into the cylinder 11 is attached above the side surface of the cylinder 11. A hydrogen gas introduction pipe 23 for introducing hydrogen gas supplied from a hydrogen supply device 30 is connected to the injector 17. The hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen gas introduction pipe 23 is injected from the injector 17 into the interior of the cylinder 11 and burns inside the cylinder 11. The combustion gas moves the piston 12 up and down to rotate a crankshaft (not shown) connected to the lower end of the piston 12.

[0016] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, a cooling water pump 18 for circulating cooling water through the hydrogen engine 10 is attached to the hydrogen engine vehicle 100.

[0017] The hydrogen supply device 30 boosts the pressure and vaporizes the liquid hydrogen stored in the liquid hydrogen tank 31 and supplies it as hydrogen gas at the supply pressure to the hydrogen engine 10. The hydrogen supply device 30 includes a liquid hydrogen tank 31, a liquid hydrogen pump 32, a vaporizer 37, a pressure chamber 45, a pressure reducing valve 50, a heater 65, and a hydrogen gas filling port 49.

[0018] The liquid hydrogen tank 31 is a container with a heat insulation structure for storing cooled liquid hydrogen inside. The pressure inside the liquid hydrogen tank 31 is about the same as the atmospheric pressure or slightly higher than the atmospheric pressure.

[0019] The liquid hydrogen pump 32 is a reciprocating pump in which an in-tank piston 33, located inside the liquid hydrogen tank 31, moves up and down. The liquid hydrogen pump 32 increases the pressure of the liquid hydrogen stored in the liquid hydrogen tank 31 to a pressure higher than the supply pressure of the hydrogen gas supplied to the hydrogen engine 10. A motor 35 and a drive cam 34, which converts the rotational motion of the motor 35 into vertical reciprocating motion, are located outside the liquid hydrogen tank 31. The casing of the in-tank piston 33 has an intake port for drawing in liquid hydrogen and an outlet port for discharging liquid hydrogen, and a liquid hydrogen discharge pipe 36 is connected to the outlet port. The liquid hydrogen discharge pipe 36 extends from inside the liquid hydrogen tank 31 to outside the liquid hydrogen tank 31 and is connected to a vaporizer 37. When the motor 35 rotates, the drive cam 34 causes the in-tank piston 33 to reciprocate vertically, increasing the pressure of the liquid hydrogen stored in the liquid hydrogen tank 31 and discharging it from the liquid hydrogen discharge pipe 36 to the vaporizer 37.

[0020] The vaporizer 37 is a heat exchanger between high-pressure liquid hydrogen discharged from the liquid hydrogen pump 32 and heated helium gas, vaporizing the liquid hydrogen to produce high-pressure hydrogen gas. The vaporizer 37 consists of a casing 61 through which heated helium gas flows, and a tube 62 installed inside the casing 61 through which high-pressure liquid hydrogen flows.

[0021] The heater 65 is a heat exchanger between the helium gas that has passed through the vaporizer 37 and the cooling water of the hydrogen engine 10, and it heats the helium gas whose temperature has decreased after passing through the vaporizer 37. The heater 65 consists of a casing 66 through which the helium gas flows and a tube 67 installed inside the casing 66 through which the cooling water of the hydrogen engine 10 flows.

[0022] The casing 61 of the vaporizer 37 and the casing 66 of the heater 65 are connected by a heating gas duct 63 and a return duct 64. A fan 52 is attached to the heating gas duct 63, and when the fan 52 is driven, helium gas circulates between the casing 66 of the heater 65 and the casing 61 of the vaporizer 37. In addition, the cooling water for the hydrogen engine 10 is pressurized by the cooling water pump 18 and circulates between the hydrogen engine 10 and the tube 67 of the heater 65 through a supply pipe 68 and a return pipe 69.

[0023] The high-temperature cooling water of the hydrogen engine 10 flows through the tube 67 of the heater 65, heating the helium gas. The heated helium gas flows from the heating gas duct 63 into the casing 61 of the vaporizer 37, where it exchanges heat with the high-pressure, low-temperature liquid hydrogen that flows from the liquid hydrogen discharge pipe 36 into the tube 62 of the vaporizer 37. Through heat exchange, the liquid hydrogen is heated and vaporizes, becoming high-pressure hydrogen gas that flows out into the hydrogen gas supply pipe 38.

[0024] The hydrogen gas supply pipe 38 is fitted with, from the upstream side, a check valve 44, a first manifold 43, a second manifold 47, and a pressure reducing valve 50. The first manifold 43 is connected to a pressure chamber 45 via a hydrogen gas filling pipe 39 and a hydrogen gas outlet pipe 41. The hydrogen gas filling pipe 39 is fitted with a check valve 40. The hydrogen gas outlet pipe 41 is fitted with a gate valve 42.

[0025] If the hydrogen pressure in the first manifold 43 is higher than the hydrogen pressure in the pressure chamber 45, the check valve 40 opens and hydrogen gas is supplied from the first manifold 43 to the pressure chamber 45. On the other hand, if the hydrogen pressure in the first manifold 43 is lower than the hydrogen pressure in the pressure chamber 45, the hydrogen gas supplied to the pressure chamber 45 flows out to the first manifold 43 through the hydrogen gas outlet pipe 41 and the gate valve 42.

[0026] A hydrogen gas filling port 49 is connected to a second manifold 47 located downstream of the first manifold 43 via a connecting pipe 48. The hydrogen gas filling port 49 consists of a receptacle to which a filling nozzle attached to a hydrogen gas pipe is connected, for example. In this case, the hydrogen charging nozzle can be connected to the hydrogen gas filling port 49 with a single touch.

[0027] Downstream of the second manifold 47 of the hydrogen gas supply pipe 38, a pressure reducing valve 50 is provided to reduce the pressure of the high-pressure hydrogen gas to the supply pressure to the hydrogen engine 10. Downstream of the pressure reducing valve 50, a hydrogen gas inlet pipe 23 is connected. The hydrogen gas inlet pipe 23 is connected to the injector 17 of the hydrogen engine 10 to supply hydrogen gas to the hydrogen engine 10.

[0028] Thus, the pressure chamber 45 is connected to the hydrogen gas supply pipe 38. The hydrogen gas filling port 49 is installed in the hydrogen gas supply pipe 38 between the pressure chamber 45 and the hydrogen engine 10. A check valve 44 is also installed in the hydrogen gas supply pipe 38 between the pressure chamber 45 and the vaporizer 37.

[0029] Next, the initial startup process of the hydrogen engine vehicle 100 configured as described above will be explained. During the initial startup of the hydrogen engine vehicle 100, a hydrogen gas hose with a hydrogen gas filling nozzle attached is connected to a hydrogen cylinder. The hydrogen gas cylinder is an external hydrogen gas source for the hydrogen engine vehicle 100. Then, the hydrogen gas filling nozzle is connected to the hydrogen gas filling port 49. When the valve of the hydrogen cylinder is opened, hydrogen gas is filled into the pressure chamber 45 through the hydrogen gas filling port 49, connecting pipe 48, second manifold 47, first manifold 43, check valve 40, and hydrogen gas filling pipe 39. At this time, the filled hydrogen gas does not flow into the vaporizer 37 or the liquid hydrogen tank 31 due to the check valve 44.

[0030] Once hydrogen gas has filled the pressure chamber 45 and the pressure in the pressure chamber 45 exceeds the hydrogen supply pressure to the hydrogen engine 10, the valve on the hydrogen cylinder is closed and the hydrogen gas filling nozzle is removed. Then, the gate valve 42 is opened to supply the hydrogen gas stored in the pressure chamber 45 to the hydrogen engine 10 and start the hydrogen engine 10.

[0031] Once the hydrogen engine 10 starts and the temperature of the coolant rises, the coolant pump 18 circulates the heated coolant through the heater 65, and this heat vaporizes the liquid hydrogen.

[0032] As explained above ,water The hydrogen supply device 30 can easily perform the initial start-up of the hydrogen engine 10.

[0033] In the above explanation, the connecting pipe 48 is assumed to be connected to the second manifold 47, but it is not limited to this, and for example, it may be connected to the first manifold 43. Also, in the above explanation, a hydrogen cylinder is assumed to be used as the external hydrogen gas source, but it is not limited to this, and for example, a hydrogen charging gas station or a hydrogen gas tank mounted on the vehicle may also be used.

[0034] Next, refer to Figure 2. water The hydrogen supply device 30A will now be described. Parts identical to those of the hydrogen supply device 30, which was described earlier with reference to Figure 1, are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted.

[0035] The hydrogen supply device 30A has a connecting pipe 48A directly connected to the pressure chamber 45, and a hydrogen gas filling port 49A connected to the connecting pipe 48A. Furthermore, the hydrogen supply device 30A does not have the check valve 44 found in the hydrogen supply device 30. In the hydrogen supply device 30A, hydrogen gas is directly filled into the pressure chamber 45 from an external hydrogen gas source, a hydrogen cylinder.

[0036] Next, refer to Figure 3. water The hydrogen supply device 30B will now be described. Parts identical to those of the hydrogen supply device 30, which was described earlier with reference to Figure 1, are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted.

[0037] In the hydrogen supply device 30B, a third manifold 47B is placed in the hydrogen gas supply pipe 38 between the first manifold 43 and the check valve 44, a connecting pipe 48B is connected to the third manifold 47B, and a hydrogen gas filling port 49B is connected to the connecting pipe 48B. In the hydrogen supply device 30A, hydrogen gas is supplied from an external hydrogen gas source, a hydrogen gas cylinder, through the hydrogen gas filling port 49B, connecting pipe 48B, third manifold 47B, check valve 40, and hydrogen gas filling pipe 39 to fill the pressure chamber 45. At this time, the supplied hydrogen gas does not flow into the vaporizer 37 or the liquid hydrogen tank 31 due to the check valve 44.

[0038] The hydrogen supply devices 30A and 30B described above, like the hydrogen supply device 30, can easily perform the initial start-up of the hydrogen engine 10. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10 Hydrogen engine, 11 Cylinder, 12 Piston, 13 Intake port, 14 Exhaust port, 15 Intake valve, 16 Exhaust valve, 17 Injector, 18 Cooling water pump, 23 Hydrogen gas inlet pipe, 30, 30A, 30B Hydrogen supply device, 31 Liquid hydrogen tank, 32 Liquid hydrogen pump, 33 In-tank piston, 34 Drive cam, 35 Motor, 36 Liquid hydrogen discharge pipe, 37 Vaporizer, 38 Hydrogen gas supply pipe, 39 Hydrogen gas filling pipe, 40, 44 Check valve, 41 Hydrogen gas outlet pipe, 42 Gate valve, 43 First manifold, 45 Pressure chamber, 47 Second manifold, 47B Third manifold, 48, 48A, 48B Connecting pipe, 49, 49A, 49B Hydrogen gas filling port, 52 Fan, 61 Casing, 62 Tube, 63 64 Heating gas duct, 65 Return duct, 66 Heater, 67 Casing, 68 Supply pipe, 69 Return pipe, 100 Hydrogen engine vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for starting a hydrogen supply system comprising: a liquid hydrogen pump for pressurizing liquid hydrogen stored in a liquid hydrogen tank; a vaporizer for converting the liquid hydrogen discharged from the liquid hydrogen pump into hydrogen gas; a pressure chamber filled with hydrogen gas flowing out of the vaporizer and for supplying the filled hydrogen gas to a hydrogen engine; and a hydrogen gas filling port for filling the pressure chamber with hydrogen gas from an external hydrogen gas source, wherein The hydrogen gas source is connected to the hydrogen gas filling port, and hydrogen gas is filled into the pressure chamber from the hydrogen gas source until the pressure in the pressure chamber exceeds the hydrogen supply pressure to the hydrogen engine. Subsequently, the hydrogen gas source is removed from the hydrogen gas filling port, the hydrogen gas stored in the pressure chamber is supplied to the hydrogen engine to start the hydrogen engine, and the heat from the hydrogen engine is supplied to the vaporizer to convert liquid hydrogen into hydrogen gas. A method for starting a hydrogen supply device, characterized by the following features.

2. A method for starting a hydrogen supply device according to claim 1, Includes a hydrogen gas supply pipe connecting the vaporizer and the hydrogen engine, The pressure chamber is connected to the hydrogen gas supply pipe, The hydrogen gas filling port is attached to the hydrogen gas supply pipe between the pressure chamber and the hydrogen engine. A method for starting a hydrogen supply device, characterized by the following features.

3. A method for starting a hydrogen engine vehicle, comprising a hydrogen engine for driving the vehicle and a hydrogen supply device for supplying hydrogen gas to the hydrogen engine, The hydrogen supply device comprises a liquid hydrogen pump for pressurizing liquid hydrogen stored in a liquid hydrogen tank, a vaporizer for converting the liquid hydrogen discharged from the liquid hydrogen pump into hydrogen gas, a pressure chamber filled with hydrogen gas flowing out of the vaporizer and supplied to the hydrogen engine, and a hydrogen gas filling port for filling the pressure chamber with hydrogen gas from an external hydrogen gas source. The hydrogen gas source is connected to the hydrogen gas filling port, and hydrogen gas is filled into the pressure chamber from the hydrogen gas source until the pressure in the pressure chamber exceeds the hydrogen supply pressure to the hydrogen engine. Subsequently, the hydrogen gas source is removed from the hydrogen gas filling port, the hydrogen gas stored in the pressure chamber is supplied to the hydrogen engine to start the hydrogen engine, and the heat from the hydrogen engine is supplied to the vaporizer to convert liquid hydrogen into hydrogen gas. A method for starting a hydrogen engine vehicle, characterized by the features described above.

4. A method for starting a hydrogen engine vehicle according to claim 3, The hydrogen supply device is Includes a hydrogen gas supply pipe connecting the vaporizer and the hydrogen engine, The pressure chamber is connected to the hydrogen gas supply pipe, The hydrogen gas filling port is attached to the hydrogen gas supply pipe between the pressure chamber and the hydrogen engine. A method for starting a hydrogen engine vehicle, characterized by the features described above.

Images