Hydrogen engine vehicles

Abstract

This suppresses contamination and corrosion of the hydrogen inlet caused by the adhesion of urea solution. [Solution] A hydrogen inlet 24, which is the inlet for injecting hydrogen into the hydrogen tank 20 from outside the vehicle, and a urea water inlet 25, which is the inlet for injecting urea water into the urea water tank 23 from outside the vehicle, are installed side by side in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle within the same lid 29 located on the left side of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10.

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. Such a hydrogen engine vehicle has a hydrogen inlet for injecting hydrogen from outside the vehicle. The hydrogen inlet is housed in a lid provided on the side surface of the vehicle or the like. The hydrogen inlet requires high sealing performance to avoid hydrogen leakage.

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 is provided with a urea water tank for storing urea water and a urea water inlet which is a receptacle for replenishing urea water into the urea water tank from outside the vehicle. Further, a hydrogen engine vehicle is provided with a hydrogen tank for storing hydrogen and a hydrogen inlet which is a receptacle for replenishing hydrogen into the hydrogen tank from outside the vehicle. In such a hydrogen engine vehicle, there is a risk that the hydrogen inlet may be soiled or corroded by the adhesion of urea water spilled from the urea water inlet. And due to the soiling and corrosion, the sealing performance of the hydrogen inlet may decrease. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] 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 urea water tank for storing urea water, a hydrogen inlet which is a receiving port for hydrogen supplied to the hydrogen tank from outside the vehicle, and a urea water inlet which is a receiving port for urea water supplied to the urea water tank from outside the vehicle, wherein the hydrogen inlet and the urea water inlet are installed side by side in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle within the same lid installed on one side of the hydrogen engine vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The above-mentioned hydrogen engine vehicle has the effect of suppressing contamination and corrosion of the hydrogen inlet caused by the adhesion of urea solution. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the layout of one embodiment of a hydrogen engine vehicle as viewed from below. [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. [Figure 6] Figure 6 schematically shows the layout of another embodiment of a hydrogen engine vehicle as viewed from below. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] 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.

[0009] <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 by adding urea water to the exhaust.

[0010] <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.

[0011] 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 in the same lid 29 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.

[0012] 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.

[0013] 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.

[0014] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the hydrogen inlet 24 and urea solution inlet 25 with the lid 29 open. As shown in Figure 3, the hydrogen inlet 24 and urea solution inlet 25 are installed side by side in the vehicle's longitudinal direction within the lid 29, with the urea solution inlet 25 positioned further forward than the hydrogen inlet 24. Note that Figures 3, and later Figures 4 and 5, show the hydrogen inlet 24 and urea solution inlet 25 with their caps attached.

[0015] 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. Further, 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 outer side 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.

[0016] 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 IN of the vehicle. In the following description, in the frame member 30, the portion having a shape recessed toward the inside IN of the vehicle where the hydrogen injection port 24 and the urea water injection port 25 are installed is referred to as the injection port mounting portions 30A, 30B. As shown in Figure 5, the hydrogen injection port 24 and the urea water injection port 25 are installed such that their entire bodies are located more on the inside IN of the vehicle than the outer surface of the portion around the injection port mounting portions 30A, 30B in the frame member 30.

[0017] In the 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 the portion between the injection port mounting portions 30A, 30B in the frame member 30.

[0018] <Action of the Embodiment> In the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the hydrogen injection port 24 and the urea water injection port 25 are installed in the same lid 29 installed on the left side surface of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10. 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-described 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 arranged side by side in the vehicle front-rear direction within the same lid 29 installed on the left side surface of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10, with the aqueous urea inlet 25 positioned forward of the vehicle relative to the hydrogen inlet 24. When refueling the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 with hydrogen, high sealing performance is required for the hydrogen inlet 24 to prevent hydrogen from leaking to the outside. If the aqueous urea spilled from the aqueous urea inlet 25 adheres to the hydrogen inlet 24, the metal parts and the like constituting the hydrogen inlet 24 may be soiled or corroded. Then, there is a risk that the sealing performance of the hydrogen inlet 24 may deteriorate due to soiling or corrosion. Most of the aqueous urea spilled from the aqueous urea inlet 25 drips down below the vehicle. On the other hand, in the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the hydrogen inlet 24 is positioned rearward of the vehicle relative to the aqueous urea inlet 25. Therefore, even when installed within the same lid 29 as the aqueous urea inlet 25, it is difficult for the aqueous urea to adhere to the hydrogen inlet 24. Accordingly, soiling and corrosion of the hydrogen inlet 24 due to the aqueous urea spilled from the aqueous urea inlet 25 can be suppressed.

[0020] (2) The hydrogen inlet 24 and the aqueous urea inlet 25 are installed within 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) The hydrogen inlet 24 is located at the rear of the vehicle when viewed from the urea water inlet 25. The hydrogen tank 20 is also installed at the rear of the vehicle, further rear than the urea water tank 23 in the hydrogen engine vehicle 10. This allows the length of the urea water injection pipe 27 and the hydrogen injection pipe 26 to be shortened. Also, the urea water injection pipe 27 and the hydrogen injection pipe 26 do not cross each other. Therefore, the installation space for the urea water injection pipe 27 and the hydrogen injection pipe 26 can be reduced, and the freed-up space can be used to increase the capacity of the hydrogen tank 20, etc. In this embodiment, the rear of the vehicle corresponds to the first direction, of the front and rear of the vehicle, where the hydrogen inlet 24 is located when viewed from the urea water inlet 25.

[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, the tank may deteriorate due to the 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 high-temperature exhaust pipe 16.

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

[0027] (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.

[0028] <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.

[0029] <Regarding the arrangement of each inlet and each tank> As shown in Figure 6, the hydrogen inlet 24 may be installed in the front portion of the vehicle of the urea water inlet 25 inside the lid 29. In this case, in order to shorten the length of the urea water injection pipe 27 and the hydrogen injection pipe 26 and to avoid them crossing, it is desirable to install the hydrogen tank 20 in the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 in a portion of the vehicle in front of the urea water tank 23. In this embodiment, the front of the vehicle corresponds to the first direction in which the hydrogen inlet 24 is located when viewed from the urea water inlet 25.

[0030] The arrangement of hydrogen tanks 20-22 and urea water tank 23 in the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 may be changed as appropriate. For example, at least one of the hydrogen tank 20 and urea water tank 23 may be installed closer to the side of the hydrogen engine vehicle 10 where the lid 29 is not installed than to the side where the lid 29 is installed. In order to obtain the effect of (1) above, the hydrogen tank 20 directly connected to the hydrogen inlet 24 must be installed closer to the side where the lid 29 is installed than to the side where the lid 29 is not installed.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] (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 installed side by side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle within the same lid installed on one side of the hydrogen engine vehicle.

[0034] [Note 2] Of the front and rear of the vehicle, the direction in which the hydrogen inlet is located when viewed from the urea water inlet is defined as the first direction, wherein the hydrogen tank is located in the part of the hydrogen engine vehicle that is in the first direction relative to the urea water tank.

[0035] [Note 3] The hydrogen engine vehicle according to Note 1 or Note 2, wherein the hydrogen inlet is located rearward of the vehicle than the urea water inlet. [Note 4] The hydrogen engine vehicle described in Note 3, wherein the hydrogen tank is located rearward of the vehicle than the urea water tank.

[0036] [Note 5] The hydrogen engine vehicle according to any one of Notes 1 to 4, wherein 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 6] The hydrogen engine vehicle according to any one of Notes 1 to 5, 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 7] The hydrogen engine vehicle in question is a hydrogen engine vehicle described in any of Notes 1 to 6, which is a front-engine vehicle. [Note 8] A hydrogen engine vehicle according to any one of Notes 1 to 7, wherein a partition wall is provided between the hydrogen inlet and the urea water inlet. [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 solution inlet are installed side by side in the vehicle's longitudinal direction within the same lid located on one side of the hydrogen engine vehicle. 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, where, of the front and rear of the vehicle, the direction in which the hydrogen inlet is located as viewed from the urea water inlet is defined as the first direction, the hydrogen tank is positioned in a portion of the hydrogen engine vehicle that is greater than the urea water tank in the first direction.

3. The hydrogen engine vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen inlet is located further rearward than the urea solution inlet.

4. The hydrogen engine vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the hydrogen tank is located rearward of the vehicle than the urea water tank.

5. 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.

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

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

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