Hydrogen engine vehicles

Abstract

This suppresses contamination and corrosion of the hydrogen inlet caused by urea solution. [Solution] The hydrogen inlet 24 and the urea water inlet 25 are housed in the same lid 29 installed on one side of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10, and the hydrogen inlet 24 is installed above the urea water inlet 25 on the vehicle body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydrogen engine vehicle equipped with a hydrogen engine.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a hydrogen engine vehicle in which a hydrogen tank is arranged at the rear of the vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a hydrogen engine, nitrogen oxides (NOx) are generated when nitrogen and oxygen in the air react during the combustion of hydrogen. In order to purify such NOx, it is conceivable to install a urea SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system for purifying NOx in a hydrogen engine vehicle equipped with a hydrogen engine. A hydrogen engine vehicle equipped with a urea SCR system includes a urea water tank for storing urea water, a urea water inlet which is an inlet for urea water from outside the vehicle, and a urea water injection pipe which is a pipe for guiding the urea water injected into the urea water inlet to the urea water tank.

[0005] If the urea water spilled from the urea water inlet adheres to the hydrogen inlet, the sealing performance of the hydrogen inlet may deteriorate due to fouling and corrosion by the urea water.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A hydrogen engine vehicle that solves the above problems is a hydrogen engine vehicle equipped with a hydrogen engine, comprising a hydrogen tank for storing hydrogen, a hydrogen inlet which is an inlet for injecting hydrogen into the hydrogen tank from outside the vehicle, a urea water tank for storing urea water, and a urea water inlet which is an inlet for injecting urea water into the urea water tank from outside the vehicle, wherein the hydrogen inlet and the urea water inlet are housed in the same lid installed on one side of the vehicle body, and the hydrogen inlet is configured to be positioned above the urea water inlet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The above-mentioned hydrogen engine vehicles have the effect of suppressing contamination and corrosion of the hydrogen inlet by urea solution. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the drive system and other components of one embodiment of a hydrogen engine vehicle as viewed from below the vehicle. [Figure 2] Figure 2 schematically shows the arrangement of the hydrogen inlet and urea solution inlet in the hydrogen engine vehicle shown in Figure 1, as viewed from the left side of the vehicle. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the hydrogen inlet, urea solution inlet, and surrounding areas of the hydrogen engine vehicle shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the internal structure of the center pillar in the hydrogen engine vehicle shown in Figure 1, where the hydrogen inlet and urea solution inlet are located. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the center pillar along the line 5-5 in Figure 4. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Below, one embodiment of a hydrogen engine vehicle will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 to 5. In each figure, "FR" indicates the front of the vehicle, "RR" indicates the rear of the vehicle, "UP" indicates the top of the vehicle, "DW" indicates the bottom of the vehicle, "RH" indicates the right side of the vehicle, and "LH" indicates the left side of the vehicle.

[0010] <Configuration of the drivetrain of hydrogen engine vehicle 10> First, with reference to Figure 1, the configuration of the drive system of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 of this embodiment will be described. The hydrogen engine vehicle 10 of this embodiment adopts a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. A hydrogen engine 11 is mounted longitudinally at the front of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10. The hydrogen engine 11 is connected to a propeller shaft 13 via a transmission 12. The propeller shaft 13 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, passing through the center of the vehicle width direction of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10. The propeller shaft 13 is then connected to the left and right rear wheels 15 of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 via a differential 14. An exhaust pipe 16 is connected to the hydrogen engine 11. The exhaust pipe 16 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, from the front of the vehicle where the hydrogen engine 11 is installed to the rear of the vehicle. The hydrogen engine 11 is equipped with a urea SCR system that purifies the exhaust gas by selective catalytic reduction using urea water added to the exhaust gas as a reducing agent.

[0011] <Arrangement of tanks and filler ports for hydrogen engine vehicle 10> As shown in Figure 1, the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 is equipped with three hydrogen tanks 20-22 for storing hydrogen burned by the hydrogen engine 11. The three hydrogen tanks 20-22 are installed under the floor of the passenger compartment. Hydrogen tank 20 is located in the left-hand portion of the vehicle's center in the longitudinal direction, hydrogen tank 21 is located in the right-hand portion of the vehicle's center in the longitudinal direction, and hydrogen tank 22 is located at the rear of the vehicle. The exhaust pipe 16 of the hydrogen engine 11 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, passing to the right of the hydrogen tank 22 in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 is equipped with a urea water tank 23 for storing urea water to be added to the exhaust of the hydrogen engine 11. The urea water tank 23 is located in front of the hydrogen tank 20 under the floor of the passenger compartment.

[0012] The hydrogen engine vehicle 10 is equipped with a hydrogen inlet 24, which is an inlet for injecting hydrogen from outside the vehicle into the hydrogen tank 20, and a urea water inlet 25, which is an inlet for injecting urea water from outside the vehicle into the urea water tank 23. The hydrogen inlet 24 and the urea water inlet 25 are located within the same lid 29, which is installed on the left side of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10. The lid 29 is an openable and closable cover that covers the hydrogen inlet 24 and the urea water inlet 25. The hydrogen inlet 24 is connected to the hydrogen tank 20 via a hydrogen injection pipe 26. The urea water inlet 25 is connected to the urea water tank 23 via a urea water injection pipe 27. Note that in Figure 1, for illustrative purposes, the hydrogen inlet 24 and the urea water inlet 25 are shown in a different arrangement than they actually are.

[0013] Hydrogen tanks 21 and 22, other than hydrogen tank 20, are connected to hydrogen tank 20 via hydrogen piping 28. In this hydrogen engine vehicle 10, hydrogen tank 20 is directly connected to the hydrogen inlet 24, while the remaining hydrogen tanks 21 and 22 are indirectly connected to the hydrogen inlet 24 via hydrogen tank 20.

[0014] As shown in Figure 2, the left side of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 is provided with a front door 17 and a rear door 18 located behind the front door 17. The lid 29 is installed between the front door 17 and the center pillar 19 between the front door 17. The center pillar 19 is a structure that acts as a column in the hydrogen engine vehicle 10, located between the front door 17 and the rear door 18.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lid 29 is installed in a location directly next to the hydrogen tank 20, and the urea water tank 23 is installed in a location further forward than the lid 29. Thus, in the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 of this embodiment, the lid 29 is installed in a location closer to the hydrogen tank 20 than to the urea water tank 23.

[0016] Figure 3 shows the perspective structure of the hydrogen injection port 24 and the urea water injection port 25 with the lid 29 open. As shown in Figure 3, inside the lid 29, the hydrogen injection port 24 is installed above the vehicle relative to the urea water injection port 25. In Figure 3 and Figures 4 and 5 described later, the hydrogen injection port 24 and the urea water injection port 25 are shown in a state with caps.

[0017] Figure 4 shows a plan view of the internal structure of the center pillar 19 at the installation sites of the hydrogen injection port 24 and the urea water injection port 25. Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the center pillar 19 along the line 5-5 of Figure 4. The center pillar 19 is composed of a frame member 30 and an outer panel 31 provided on the outside of the vehicle of the frame member 30. The lid 29 is installed in an opening formed in a portion around the hydrogen injection port 24 and the urea water injection port 25 in the outer panel 31. The portions (30A, 30B) around the hydrogen injection port 24 and the urea water injection port 25 in the frame member 30 are shaped to be recessed toward the inside of the vehicle IN. In the following description, in the frame member 30, the portions that are recessed toward the inside of the vehicle IN where the hydrogen injection port 24 and the urea water injection port 25 are installed are referred to as the injection port mounting portions 30A, 30B. As shown in Figure 5, in a state where the lid 29 is closed, the two injection port mounting portions 30A, 30B are in an isolated state. That is, a partition wall 30C for isolating the hydrogen injection port 24 and the urea water injection port 25 is provided in a portion between the injection port mounting portions 30A, 30B in the frame member 30.

[0018] <Action of the Embodiment> The hydrogen injection port 24 and the urea water injection port 25 of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 are installed in the same lid 29 installed on the left side surface. The hydrogen injected from the hydrogen injection port 24 is sent to the hydrogen tank 20 through the hydrogen injection pipe 26. Hydrogen is distributively supplied to the remaining two hydrogen tanks 21, 22 from the hydrogen tank 20 through the hydrogen pipe 28. On the other hand, the urea water injected into the urea water injection port 25 is sent to the urea water tank 23 through the urea water injection pipe 27.

[0019] <Effect of the Embodiment> The hydrogen engine vehicle 10 of the above embodiment has the following effects. (1) The hydrogen engine vehicle 10 equipped with the hydrogen engine 11 includes a hydrogen tank 20 for storing hydrogen, and a hydrogen inlet 24 which is an inlet for hydrogen from outside the vehicle to the hydrogen tank 20. Further, the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 includes an aqueous urea tank 23 for storing aqueous urea, and an aqueous urea inlet 25 which is an inlet for aqueous urea from outside the vehicle to the aqueous urea tank 23. The hydrogen inlet 24 and the aqueous urea inlet 25 are installed in the same lid 29 installed on the left side surface of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10. And the hydrogen tank 20 and the aqueous urea tank 23 are respectively installed in a portion closer to the left side surface where the lid 29 is installed in the vehicle width direction of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10. That is, the hydrogen tank 20 and the aqueous urea tank 23 are installed in a portion closer to the side surface where the lid 29 is installed than the side surface where the lid 29 is not installed in the hydrogen engine vehicle 10. Therefore, the pipe lengths of the hydrogen injection pipe 26 connecting the hydrogen inlet 24 to the hydrogen tank 20 and the aqueous urea injection pipe 27 connecting the aqueous urea inlet 25 to the aqueous urea tank 23 can be shortened. Thereby, since the installation space of the hydrogen injection pipe 26 and the aqueous urea injection pipe 27 can be reduced, the capacities of the hydrogen tanks 20 to 22 can be increased accordingly. Thus, the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 of this embodiment has the effect that the capacities of the hydrogen tanks 20 to 22 that can be installed can be increased.

[0020] (2) The hydrogen inlet 24 and the aqueous urea inlet 25 are installed in the same lid 29. Therefore, the number of inlet-related parts and the installation space can be reduced compared to the case where the hydrogen inlet 24 and the aqueous urea inlet 25 are installed in individual lids.

[0021] (3) When refueling the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 with hydrogen, the hydrogen inlet 24 requires high sealing performance to prevent hydrogen from leaking to the outside. If urea solution spills from the urea solution inlet 25 and adheres to the hydrogen inlet 24, the metal parts and other components constituting the hydrogen inlet 24 may become contaminated or corroded. This contamination and corrosion may reduce the sealing performance of the hydrogen inlet 24. In contrast, in the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 of this embodiment, the hydrogen inlet 24 is installed above the urea solution inlet 25 inside the lid 29. Most of the urea solution spilled from the urea solution inlet 25 drips down the vehicle, but the hydrogen inlet 24 is located above the urea solution inlet 25. Therefore, even though it is installed inside the same lid 29 as the urea solution inlet 25, urea solution is less likely to adhere to the hydrogen inlet 24. Therefore, contamination and corrosion of the hydrogen inlet 24 by urea solution spilled from the urea solution inlet 25 can be suppressed.

[0022] (4) Generally, the urea water tank 23 is smaller in size than the hydrogen tank 20. In the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 of this embodiment, the smaller urea water tank 23 is positioned further forward than the larger hydrogen tank 20. On the other hand, it is easier to secure installation space for tanks and the like under the floor of the passenger compartment than at the front of the vehicle, which is closer to the hydrogen engine 11 and transmission 12. Therefore, it is easier to increase the capacity of the hydrogen tank 20.

[0023] (5) The hydrogen engine vehicle 10 is configured as a front-engine vehicle with the hydrogen engine 11 located at the front of the vehicle. On the other hand, in a urea SCR system, it is necessary to add urea water to the part of the exhaust pipe 16 that is close to the hydrogen engine 11. In contrast to this, in the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 of this embodiment, the urea water tank 23 is located in front of the vehicle, ahead of the hydrogen tank 20. Therefore, the distance between the urea water addition point in the exhaust pipe 16 and the urea water tank 23 can be shortened. As a result, the piping for supplying urea water from the urea water tank 23 to the urea water addition point can be shortened.

[0024] (6) A lid 29, which has a hydrogen inlet 24 and a urea water inlet 25 installed inside, is installed on the center pillar 19 between the front door 17 and the rear door 18 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This shortens the distance between the hydrogen inlet 24 and the hydrogen tank 20, and thus the length of the hydrogen injection pipe 26 can be shortened.

[0025] (7) Generally, resin tanks are used for urea water tanks 23. Resin tanks are less resistant to heat than metal tanks, so if they are placed near the exhaust pipe 16 through which high-temperature exhaust gas flows, they may deteriorate due to heat. In contrast, in the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 of this embodiment, the exhaust pipe 16 of the hydrogen engine 11 is located closer to the side without the lid 29 than to the side with the lid 29. Therefore, the urea water tank 23 can be installed in a location away from the exhaust pipe 16, which is a cause of thermal deterioration.

[0026] (8) A partition wall 30C is provided between the hydrogen inlet 24 and the urea water inlet 25. Since the hydrogen inlet 24 and the urea water inlet 25 are separated by the partition wall 30C, the effect of suppressing the adhesion of urea water to the hydrogen inlet 24 is enhanced.

[0027] (9) The hydrogen injection pipe 26, which transports hydrogen at low temperature and high pressure, is heavier per unit length and more expensive per unit length than the urea water injection pipe 27 because it requires strength and low temperature resistance. In contrast, in this embodiment, the lid 29, which houses the hydrogen inlet 24 and the urea water inlet 25, is installed on one side of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 in a location where the hydrogen tank 20 is closer than the urea water tank 23. Since the length of the hydrogen injection pipe 26 can be shortened, the total cost and total weight of the hydrogen inlet 24 and the urea water inlet 25 can be reduced.

[0028] (Other embodiments) The above embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0029] <Regarding the arrangement of the hydrogen inlet 24 and the urea solution inlet 25> In the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 of the above embodiment, the hydrogen inlet 24 and the urea solution inlet 25 were arranged side by side in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. If the hydrogen inlet 24 is positioned above the urea solution inlet 25, the hydrogen inlet 24 and the urea solution inlet 25 may be offset in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0030] <Regarding the placement of Lid 29> In the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 of the above embodiment, a lid 29 containing a hydrogen inlet 24 and a urea water inlet 25 was installed on the center pillar 19. That is, the lid 29 was installed on the left side of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 in the area between the front door 17 and the rear door 18 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The lid 29 may also be installed on the left and right sides of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 in areas other than those mentioned above. For example, the lid 29 may be installed on the right side in the area between the front door 17 and the rear door 18. Alternatively, the lid 29 may be installed on either the left or right side in the area in front of the front door 17 or behind the rear door 18.

[0031] <Regarding the placement of each tank> • In order to obtain the effect of (1) above, the hydrogen tank 20 connected to the hydrogen inlet 24 via the hydrogen injection pipe 26 must be installed closer to the side with the lid 29 installed than to the side without the lid 29. In contrast, the installation positions of the hydrogen tanks 21 and 22, which are not directly connected to the hydrogen inlet 24, may be changed as desired.

[0032] The number of hydrogen tanks installed in the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 can be changed as appropriate, as long as it includes one or more hydrogen tanks installed closer to the side on which the lid 29 is installed than to the side on which the lid 29 is not installed.

[0033] The installation positions of the hydrogen tank 20 and the urea water tank 23 may be changed as appropriate, as long as they are closer to the side of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 where the lid 29 is installed than to the side where the lid 29 is not installed.

[0034] The urea water tank 23 may be installed in a location other than the front of the vehicle where the hydrogen tank 20 is located. <others> The tank and filler port layouts in the above embodiments and modifications are also applicable to vehicles with engine layouts other than front-engine configurations.

[0035] The configuration of the drivetrain of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 may be changed as desired. For example, the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 may be configured as a hybrid vehicle equipped with a motor for driving in addition to the hydrogen engine 11.

[0036] (Additional notes) [Note 1] A hydrogen engine vehicle equipped with a hydrogen engine, comprising: a hydrogen tank for storing hydrogen; a hydrogen inlet which is an inlet for injecting hydrogen into the hydrogen tank from outside the vehicle; a urea water tank for storing urea water; and a urea water inlet which is an inlet for injecting urea water into the urea water tank from outside the vehicle, wherein the hydrogen inlet and the urea water inlet are housed in the same lid installed on one side of the hydrogen engine vehicle, the hydrogen inlet is positioned above the urea water inlet, and the hydrogen tank and the urea water tank are each installed in a part of the hydrogen engine vehicle that is closer to the side on which the lid is installed than to the side on which the lid is not installed.

[0037] [Note 2] The hydrogen engine vehicle according to Note 1, wherein a partition wall is provided between the hydrogen inlet and the urea water inlet. [Note 3] The hydrogen engine vehicle according to Note 1 or Note 2, wherein one side of the hydrogen engine vehicle on which the lid is installed is provided with a front door and a rear door located behind the front door, and the lid is installed in the portion between the front door and the rear door in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0038] [Note 4] The hydrogen engine vehicle in question is a front-engine vehicle as described in any of Notes 1 to 3. [Note 5] The hydrogen engine vehicle according to any one of Notes 1 to 4, wherein the lid is installed in a location where the hydrogen tank is closer than the urea water tank. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 10 Hydrogen engine vehicles 11 Hydrogen engine 12-speed transmission 13 Propeller Shaft 14 Differential 15 Rear wheel 16 Exhaust pipe 17 Front Door 18 Rear Door 19 Center Pillar 20-22 Hydrogen tanks 23 Urea solution tank 24 Hydrogen inlet 25 Urea water inlet 26 Hydrogen injection tube 27 Urea water injection tube 28 Hydrogen piping 29 Lid 30 Frame members 30C Bulkhead 31 Exterior panels

Claims

1. A hydrogen engine vehicle equipped with a hydrogen engine, The system comprises a hydrogen tank for storing hydrogen, a hydrogen inlet for injecting hydrogen from outside the vehicle into the hydrogen tank, a hydrogen injection pipe connecting the hydrogen inlet to the hydrogen tank, a urea water tank for storing urea water, a urea water inlet for injecting urea water from outside the vehicle into the urea water tank, and a urea water injection pipe connecting the urea water inlet to the urea water tank. The hydrogen inlet and the urea water inlet are housed within the same lid installed on one side of the hydrogen engine vehicle. The hydrogen inlet is located above the urea solution inlet on the vehicle. Furthermore, the hydrogen tank and the urea water tank are each installed in a part of the hydrogen engine vehicle that is closer to the side with the lid installed than to the side without the lid installed. The position of the lid in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle coincides with the position of the hydrogen tank in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Hydrogen engine vehicle.

2. The hydrogen engine vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a partition wall is provided between the hydrogen inlet and the urea water inlet.

3. The hydrogen engine vehicle according to claim 1, wherein one side of the hydrogen engine vehicle on which the lid is installed is provided with a front door and a rear door located behind the front door, and the lid is installed in the portion between the front door and the rear door in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

4. The hydrogen engine vehicle is a front-engine vehicle as described in claim 1.

5. The hydrogen engine vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lid is located on one side and is installed in a portion where the hydrogen tank is closer than the urea water tank.

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