vehicle

Abstract

To provide a high-pressure gas filling device capable of suppressing increase in weight of a vehicle and increase in cost while suppressing temperature rise during high-pressure gas filling of a high-pressure gas tank.SOLUTION: A high-pressure gas filling device 3 comprises a high-pressure gas filling system 31 through which high-pressure gas passes and that fills a high-pressure gas tank 4 with the high-pressure gas. The high-pressure gas filling system 31 has: a first filling route 311; a second filling route 312 that has larger pressure loss than the first filling route 311, and detours at least a part of the first filling route 311; and a solenoid valve 313 that switches between the first filling route 311 and the second filling route 312.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a high-pressure gas filling device for filling high-pressure gas into a high-pressure gas tank mounted on a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, inventions related to a high-pressure gas filling method, a high-pressure gas filling device, and a vehicle equipped with this high-pressure gas filling device for filling high-pressure gas stored in a high-pressure gas storage tank into a filling target tank are known (see Patent Document 1 below). Patent Document 1 discloses a hydrogen filling device mounted on a vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The hydrogen filling device described in Patent Document 1 above includes a heat exchanger that cools high-temperature gas supplied from a hydrogen filling station and separated by a vortex tube by exchanging heat with a vehicle body frame and a coolant. Therefore, there is a possibility that the weight of the entire vehicle on which the hydrogen filling device is mounted increases, and the cost of the vehicle increases.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a high-pressure gas filling device capable of suppressing an increase in temperature during high-pressure gas filling of a high-pressure gas tank and suppressing an increase in the weight and cost of a vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a high-pressure gas filling device for filling a high-pressure gas tank mounted on a vehicle, comprising a high-pressure gas filling system for passing the high-pressure gas through and filling the high-pressure gas tank, wherein the high-pressure gas filling system comprises a first filling path, a second filling path which has a greater pressure loss than the first filling path and bypasses at least a part of the first filling path, and a solenoid valve for switching between the first filling path and the second filling path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a high-pressure gas filling device that can suppress the temperature rise during high-pressure gas filling of a high-pressure gas tank while suppressing an increase in vehicle weight and cost. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the high-pressure gas filling apparatus according to this disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows the flow diagram of high-pressure gas filling using the high-pressure gas filling device. [Figure 3] A graph showing the relationship between the temperature of the high-pressure gas tank and the inner diameter of the second filling path. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the high-pressure gas filling apparatus according to this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a high-pressure gas filling device according to the present disclosure. The high-pressure gas filling device 3 of this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 1, such as a fuel cell vehicle (FCV). The vehicle 1 includes, for example, a receptacle 2, a high-pressure gas filling device 3, a high-pressure gas tank 4, and a gas supply system 5. The vehicle 1 includes, for example, a plurality of high-pressure gas tanks 4. Although not shown in the figures, the vehicle 1 also includes, for example, a fuel cell, a drive system including a motor, and a control device.

[0011] The receptacle 2 connects to a high-pressure gas nozzle that supplies high-pressure gas such as hydrogen in a high-pressure gas supply facility such as a hydrogen station. The high-pressure gas filling device 3 includes a high-pressure gas filling system 31 that fills the high-pressure gas tank 4 by passing the high-pressure gas supplied from the high-pressure gas nozzle through the receptacle 2. The high-pressure gas filling system 31 includes, for example, a first filling path 311, a second filling path 312, and a solenoid valve 313.

[0012] The first filling path 311 of the high-pressure gas filling system 31 includes, for example, an upstream pipe 311a connected to a receptacle 2, a manifold 311b connected to the downstream end of the upstream pipe 311a, and a downstream pipe 311c connecting the manifold 311b to each of the high-pressure gas tanks 4. The first filling path 311 also includes, for example, a check valve 311d between the upstream pipe 311a and the manifold 311b to prevent backflow of high-pressure gas from the manifold 311b to the upstream pipe 311a.

[0013] The second filling path 312 of the high-pressure gas filling system 31 has a greater pressure loss than the first filling path 311, for example, and bypasses at least a portion of the first filling path 311. More specifically, for example, the inner diameter of the piping 312a constituting the second filling path 312 is smaller than the inner diameter of the upstream piping 311a, manifold 311b, downstream piping 311c, and check valve 311d constituting the first filling path 311, resulting in a greater pressure loss in the second filling path 312 than in the first filling path 311.

[0014] Furthermore, the second filling route 312 bypasses a portion of the first filling route 311 by, for example, having a pipe 312a that constitutes the second filling route 312 branch off from the upstream part of the upstream pipe 311a of the first filling route 311 and connect to the manifold 311b. The second filling route 312 also has a check valve 312b between the pipe 312a that constitutes the second filling route 312 and the manifold 311b to prevent backflow of high-pressure gas from the manifold 311b to the pipe 312a.

[0015] The solenoid valve 313 of the high-pressure gas filling system 31 is installed, for example, at the branching point between the first filling path 311 and the second filling path 312. The solenoid valve 313 is controlled, for example, by the control device of the vehicle 1, and switches between the first filling path 311 and the second filling path 312 of the high-pressure gas filling system 31. That is, the solenoid valve 313 is controlled, for example, by the control device of the vehicle 1, and switches between a first filling state in which the high-pressure gas passes only through the first filling path 311, and a second filling state in which the high-pressure gas passes through the second filling path 312 and bypasses at least a part of the first filling path 311.

[0016] The first filling state is a state in which high-pressure gas supplied from the high-pressure gas nozzle via the receptacle 2 is supplied to the high-pressure gas tank 4 by passing only through the first filling path 311, which includes the upstream piping 311a, the check valve 311d, the manifold 311b, and the downstream piping 311c. In this first filling state, the solenoid valve 313 opens the valve that opens and closes the upstream piping 311a of the first filling path 311, and closes the valve that opens and closes the piping 312a of the second filling path 312.

[0017] The second filling state is a state in which the high-pressure gas supplied from the high-pressure gas nozzle via the receptacle 2 passes through the second filling path 312, thereby bypassing at least a portion of the first filling path 311 and being supplied to the high-pressure gas tank 4. In this second filling state, the solenoid valve 313 closes the valve that opens and closes the upstream piping 311a of the first filling path 311, and opens the valve that opens and closes the piping 312a of the second filling path 312.

[0018] The high-pressure gas tank 4 is filled with high-pressure gas supplied from a high-pressure gas nozzle via a high-pressure gas filling device 3. The high-pressure gas tank 4 includes, for example, an on-off valve, a check valve, a switching valve, and a safety valve. The high-pressure gas tank 4 also supplies the filled high-pressure gas to the gas supply system 5 via, for example, the on-off valve, the check valve, and the switching valve.

[0019] The gas supply system 5, for example, reduces the high-pressure gas supplied from the high-pressure gas tank 4 and supplies the reduced-pressure gas to a device that consumes gas such as a fuel cell. The gas supply system 5 has, for example, an upstream pipe 51, a manifold 52, a downstream pipe 53, and a pressure reducing valve 54.

[0020] The upstream pipe 51 connects each high-pressure gas tank 4 and the manifold 52. To the manifold 52, the downstream end of each upstream pipe 51 and the upstream end of the downstream pipe 53 are connected. The downstream pipe 53 connects the manifold 52 and the device that consumes gas. The pressure reducing valve 54 is provided in the downstream pipe 53 and reduces the high-pressure gas supplied from the high-pressure gas tank 4.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram during high-pressure gas filling by the high-pressure gas filling device 3 shown in FIG. 1. When the control device of the vehicle 1 starts the processing flow shown in FIG. 2, it executes a process P1 of determining whether the vehicle has arrived at the high-pressure gas filling station.

[0022] In this process P1, if the control device determines, for example, based on the position information of the vehicle 1 or the information input by the occupant of the vehicle 1, that the vehicle has not arrived at the station (NO), it repeats this process P1. On the other hand, in the process P1, if the control device determines that the vehicle 1 has arrived at the high-pressure gas filling station (YES), it executes a process P2 of selecting the filling speed.

[0023] In this process P2, the control device selects high-speed filling, for example, when it can communicate with the high-pressure gas filling station via a communication device, and selects low-speed filling when it cannot communicate. Also, the control device may select high-speed filling and low-speed filling according to the switching state of a switch that allows the occupant of the vehicle 1 to select the filling speed of the high-pressure gas. The control device then executes process P3.

[0024] In this process P3, the control device determines whether or not low-speed filling was selected in the previous process P2. If the control device determines that low-speed filling was selected in the previous process P2 (YES), it executes process P4 to switch a portion of the first filling path 311 to the second filling path 312.

[0025] In this process P4, the control device controls, for example, the solenoid valve 313 to switch a portion of the high-pressure gas filling path in the high-pressure gas filling system 31 from the first filling path 311 to the second filling path 312. That is, the control device closes the valve that opens and closes the first filling path 311 and opens the valve that opens and closes the second filling path 312 in the solenoid valve 313. After that, the control device executes process P5 to open the filling lid.

[0026] Meanwhile, in process P3, if the control device determines that high-speed filling was selected in the previous process P2 (NO), the solenoid valve 313 opens the valve that opens and closes the first filling path 311 and maintains the closed state of the valve that opens and closes the second filling path 312. As a result, the second filling path 312, which bypasses the first filling path 311, is closed, and the entire filling path for the high-pressure gas of the high-pressure gas filling system 31 is composed solely of the first filling path 311. Subsequently, the control device executes process P5 to open the filling lid.

[0027] In process P5, the control device opens the filling lid of vehicle 1. Then, the occupant of vehicle 1 connects, for example, the high-pressure gas nozzle of the high-pressure gas filling station to the receptacle 2 of vehicle 1 (process P6), and starts filling with high-pressure gas (process P7). Subsequently, the high-pressure gas filling station executes process P8 to terminate the filling of high-pressure gas, for example, when predetermined conditions are met, thereby ending the process flow shown in Figure 2.

[0028] The operation of the high-pressure gas filling device 3 of this embodiment will be explained below in comparison with the conventional hydrogen filling device described in Patent Document 1 mentioned above.

[0029] The hydrogen refueling system described in Patent Document 1 above includes a heat exchanger that cools the high-temperature gas supplied from the hydrogen refueling station and separated by a vortex tube by exchanging heat with the vehicle frame and coolant. As a result, the overall weight of the vehicle on which the hydrogen refueling system is installed may increase, and the cost of the vehicle may also increase.

[0030] Furthermore, when filling the high-pressure gas tank 4 of vehicle 1 with high-pressure gas such as hydrogen, the high-pressure gas filling station controls the supply of high-pressure gas while receiving information such as the temperature and pressure of the high-pressure gas tank 4 from vehicle 1, thereby maintaining the temperature of the high-pressure gas tank 4 below a predetermined temperature. However, if communication cannot be established between vehicle 1 and the high-pressure gas filling station, the temperature of the high-pressure gas tank 4 may exceed the predetermined temperature during high-pressure gas filling.

[0031] In contrast, the high-pressure gas filling device 3 of this embodiment is a device for filling a high-pressure gas tank 4 mounted on a vehicle 1 with high-pressure gas, and includes a high-pressure gas filling system 31 that passes high-pressure gas through to fill the high-pressure gas tank 4. The high-pressure gas filling system 31 includes a first filling path 311, a second filling path 312 which has a greater pressure loss than the first filling path 311 and bypasses at least a part of the first filling path 311, and a solenoid valve 313 that switches between the first filling path 311 and the second filling path 312.

[0032] With this configuration, the high-pressure gas filling device 3 of this embodiment can, for example, switch at least a portion of the first filling path 311 to the second filling path 312 using the solenoid valve 313 when communication between the vehicle 1 and the high-pressure gas filling station cannot be established. As a result, when filling the high-pressure gas tank 4 with high-pressure gas, the pressure loss in the high-pressure gas filling system 31 increases compared to using only the first filling path 311, and the filling speed of high-pressure gas into the high-pressure gas tank 4 decreases.

[0033] As a result, the temperature rise of the high-pressure gas tank 4 during high-pressure gas filling is suppressed, and even if communication between the vehicle 1 and the high-pressure gas filling station cannot be established, the temperature of the high-pressure gas tank 4 can be maintained below a predetermined temperature. Furthermore, since the high-pressure gas filling device 3 of this embodiment does not require a heat exchanger, an increase in the weight and cost of the vehicle 1 can be suppressed.

[0034] Furthermore, if communication between vehicle 1 and the high-pressure gas filling station is established, the high-pressure gas can be filled into the high-pressure gas tank 4 using only the first filling route 311, thereby ensuring a sufficient amount of high-pressure gas is supplied to the high-pressure gas tank 4 without reducing the filling speed. For example, 70 MPa piping can be used as the piping constituting the first filling route 311, and 35 MPa piping, which has a smaller inner diameter than 70 MPa piping, can be used as the piping constituting the second filling route 312.

[0035] Figure 3 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the temperature of the high-pressure gas tank 4 during high-pressure gas filling and the inner diameter of the second filling path 312. For example, as shown in Figure 3, by making the inner diameter of the second filling path 312 1 mm or less, the temperature of the high-pressure gas tank 4 during high-pressure gas filling can be suppressed to 85°C or less.

[0036] While embodiments of the high-pressure gas filling apparatus according to this disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and any design changes, etc., that do not depart from the gist of this disclosure are also included in this disclosure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0037] 1 vehicle 3. High-pressure gas filling device 4. High-pressure gas tank 31. High-pressure gas filling system 311 First filling route 312 Second filling route 313 Solenoid valve

Claims

[Claim 1] A high-pressure gas tank filled with high-pressure gas, A high-pressure gas filling device for filling the high-pressure gas tank with the aforementioned high-pressure gas, A control device for controlling the high-pressure gas filling device, A vehicle comprising a communication device that transmits information on the temperature and pressure of the high-pressure gas tank to a high-pressure gas filling station that fills the high-pressure gas, The high-pressure gas filling device includes a high-pressure gas filling system that passes the high-pressure gas through and fills the high-pressure gas tank. The high-pressure gas filling system includes a first filling path, a second filling path having a greater pressure loss than the first filling path and bypassing at least a portion of the first filling path, and a solenoid valve for switching between the first filling path and the second filling path. The control device is If communication with the high-pressure gas filling station is established via the communication device, the solenoid valve is controlled so that the high-pressure gas passes through the first filling path, and the high-pressure gas is supplied to the high-pressure gas tank. A vehicle characterized in that, if communication with the high-pressure gas filling station is not established via the communication device, the solenoid valve is controlled so that the high-pressure gas passes through the second filling path, and the high-pressure gas is supplied to the high-pressure gas tank.

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