JP2003269695A - Fuel gas filling system - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To reduce the pressure applied to a check valve at a filling port by releasing the pressure even if the filling pressure becomes high. SOLUTION: A filling line (pipe 3) for filling a high-pressure gas tank 5 with hydrogen is provided, a first check valve 15 is provided at a filling port 2 of the filling line (pipe 3), and a filling line (pipe 3) is provided. A gas storage means 13 is provided in parallel, and a switching means 4 for switching the filling line (pipe 3) to the gas storage means 13 side after filling the high-pressure gas tank 5 with fuel gas is provided. Further, the gas storage means 13 is connected to the second check valve 1.
4 to the high-pressure gas tank 5 side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fuel filling system using, for example, high-pressure gas (CNG, H ₂ etc.) as a fuel, and particularly to a vehicle-mounted device in which high pressure is not applied to a check valve at a filling port. The present invention relates to a fuel gas filling system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Fuel gas filling system (filling side)
Has a filling port as a connection portion with a filling facility. This filling port has a check valve inside and is structured so that the fuel gas in the pipe connected to the high-pressure gas tank does not leak to the outside even after the connection with the filling facility is released. . Such a check valve allows the movement of gas during fuel gas filling, but when it is not filled, that is, when the filling equipment is not connected to the filling port, it receives the pressure in the piping and closes the valve. It has become.

[0003]

However, in the prior art, when the fuel gas is not filled, that is,
Normally, the check valve at the filling port is forced to continue receiving the same pressure as the high pressure gas tank. Generally, the higher the filling pressure of the fuel gas, the higher the pressure received by the check valve, and accordingly the strength of the check valve must be increased. At present, it is possible to deal with the problem by improving the strength and sealability of the filling port and the check valve inside it, but as the pressure of fuel gas further increases in the future, it may become difficult to deal with it. is expected.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the pressure applied to the check valve of the filling port by releasing the pressure even if the filling pressure becomes high. And

[0005]

As a means for solving the above problems, the fuel gas filling system according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided with a filling line for filling the high pressure gas tank with the fuel gas at a high pressure, and this filling is performed. A first check valve is provided at the filling port of the line, a gas containing means is provided in parallel with the filling line, and after the high pressure gas tank is filled with fuel gas, a switching means for switching the filling line to the gas containing means side is provided. It is characterized by being provided.

With this configuration, in the fuel gas filling system according to the first aspect of the invention, when filling the fuel gas, the switching means is first switched so that the filling port and the high pressure gas tank are connected, A filling facility is connected to the filling port to fill the high-pressure gas tank with fuel gas. After the filling is completed, the switching means is switched so that the filling port and the gas containing means are connected to each other, whereby the pressure applied to the first check valve of the filling port is reduced by the amount increased by the gas containing means. Therefore, the pressure applied to the check valve at the filling port is reduced.

A fuel gas filling system according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the gas containing means is connected to the high-pressure gas tank side via a second check valve.

With this structure, in the fuel gas filling system according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the fuel gas in the high pressure gas tank is consumed, the pressure in the high pressure gas tank decreases, When the pressure in the high-pressure gas tank becomes lower than the pressure in the gas storage means, the second check valve opens and the fuel gas moves and can be consumed as fuel. Here, the high-pressure gas tank side is either one side or both sides when the high-pressure tank has a filling side and a discharge side as in the embodiment of the invention described later.

In the fuel gas filling system according to a third aspect of the present invention, when the fuel gas filling system is mounted on a vehicle, the switching of the filling line from the filling line to the gas storage means is performed by the switching means. It is characterized in that it is performed by a filling end signal from the fuel gas filling system or ON / OFF of the ignition switch of the vehicle.

With this structure, in the fuel gas filling system according to the third aspect of the present invention, after the filling is completed, the ignition switch in the vehicle is turned on so that the switching means changes the gas from the filling line. Switch to the storage means side.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a fuel gas filling system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings to be referred to, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a piping system and the like of a fuel gas filling system. The fuel gas filling system according to the present invention is provided with a fuel gas on a side portion above a rear wheel 10 of a fuel cell-equipped electric vehicle (hereinafter referred to as “vehicle”) 1 as a connection portion with a fuel gas filling facility (not shown). A gas filling port 2 is provided. The fuel gas is hydrogen, and the high pressure gas tank is filled with high pressure (about 70 MPa).

A piping 3 constituting a filling line is connected to the filling port 2, and a three-way valve 4 as a switching means, a high pressure gas tank 5, a pressure / temperature sensor 6, a pressure reducing valve 7, a shutoff valve 8 and a fuel cell. 9 or the engine is sequentially connected from the rear of the vehicle 1 toward the front. High pressure gas tank 5
A container valve 11 is provided in the container. The fuel cell 9 is arranged in the front fender above the front wheel 20. A pipe 12 is provided between the three-way valve 4 and the high-pressure gas tank 5, and a gas storage means 13 and a second check valve 14 are provided. In addition to this, piping systems such as an air supply system and a cooling system (not shown) are connected to the fuel cell 9 to form an on-vehicle fuel cell system. The fuel cell 9 is supplied with hydrogen stored in the high-pressure gas tank 5 and air taken in from the outside of the vehicle to generate electricity, and supplies electricity for driving the vehicle 1. In order to operate the fuel cell 9 preferably, the temperature of the fuel cell 9 is adjusted by a temperature adjusting means (not shown),
The humidifying means humidifies hydrogen or air supplied to the fuel cell.

Next, the fuel gas filling system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram of a detailed piping system and the like of essential parts of the fuel gas filling system of the present invention.
The fuel gas filling system includes a high pressure gas tank 5 and a pipe 3 for filling the high pressure gas tank 5 with high pressure fuel gas under high pressure.
And the first check valve 1 provided at the filling port 2 of the pipe 3.
5 and. The pipe 3 is a filling line for the high-pressure gas tank 5, so that the filling can be completed in a short time.
Use relatively thick piping. A rubber sheet is attached to the first check valve 15 to maintain airtightness. By the way, the first check valve 15 is integrated with the filling port 2,
It is provided in the fuel lid portion of the vehicle 1. Therefore, the check valve 15 is easily affected by dust and moisture from the outside.

The high-pressure gas tank 5 is a resin tank reinforced by winding carbon fiber, for example, to reduce the weight of the vehicle 1. Further, the container valve (in-tank solenoid valve) 11 of the high-pressure gas tank 5 includes the third check valve 16 and the solenoid cutoff valve 1.
7, a safety valve 18, and manual shutoff valves 19A and 19B. The third check valve 16 prevents the high-pressure gas tank 5 from being filled with hydrogen under high pressure from flowing back to the pipe 3 side.
The electromagnetic shutoff valve 17 is closed when the vehicle 1 (see FIG. 1) is parked, etc., but when the vehicle 1 is driven, it is opened by, for example, turning on the ignition key IG, and the high-pressure charged hydrogen is depressurized. The pressure is reduced by the valve 7 and is sent to the fuel cell 9 through the cutoff valve 8. The safety valve 18 is a valve that allows hydrogen in the high-pressure gas tank 5 to escape to the outside when the pressure becomes higher than a prescribed pressure. The manual cutoff valve 19A on the filling side of the high pressure gas tank 5 and the manual cutoff valve 19B on the side that consumes the fuel gas in the high pressure gas tank 5 are valves used for maintenance and the like.

After hydrogen is filled from the filling port 2 through the pipe 3 into the high pressure gas tank 5 at a high pressure of 70 MPa, the first check valve 15 of the filling port 2 and the third check valve 16 of the high pressure gas tank 5 work. Therefore, the high pressure of 70 MPa is filled not only in the high-pressure gas tank 5 but also in the pipe 3. The high pressure gas exerts a high pressure on the first check valve 15 of the filling port 2 to accelerate the deterioration of the rubber sheet. This is because, as described above, the first check valve 15 is located in a portion that is easily affected by dust and moisture. Therefore, a gas accommodating means 13 is provided in parallel with the high pressure gas tank 5, and after filling the high pressure gas tank 5, the pipe 3 is connected to the gas accommodating means 13 by the three-way valve 4 as a switching means.
Switch to. The three-way valve 4 may be a valve that is manually operated, or may be a solenoid valve that operates by giving an electric signal indicating the end of filling from a filling facility, for example. Alternatively,
When switching the gas passage with an electric signal, the ECU (Electric Control) is turned on / off by turning the ignition key IG ON / OFF.
(Troll Unit) may be used to open and close.

The gas accommodating means 13 includes a pipe 3 (a check valve 15).
~ A container such as a tank having a volume capable of greatly reducing the pressure of the high-pressure hydrogen filling the check valve 16). Further, even if the gas storage means 13 is not configured as a special container as shown in the drawing, the pipe 12 itself is
The length and the thickness may be adjusted so as to have a volume capable of significantly reducing the pressure of hydrogen filling the inside. The pipe 12A on the downstream side of the pipe 12 connected to the gas storage means 13 is connected to the high-pressure gas tank 5 via the second check valve 14. The second check valve 14 blocks the flow from the high-pressure gas tank 5 to the gas storage means 13 side, but when the pressure on the gas storage means 13 side becomes higher than the pressure on the high-pressure gas tank 5 side, the second check valve 14 transfers to the high-pressure gas tank 5. Allow the flow of. The role of the second check valve 14 is to fill the
The gas storage means 13 also has a role of preventing hydrogen from being filled.

A pressure / temperature sensor 6 is provided in the pipe 3A on the downstream side (discharge side) of the high-pressure gas tank 5 of the pipe 3.
The pressure and temperature of the high-pressure gas passing through the pipe 3 are constantly monitored. The pressure reducing valve 7 reduces the pressure of the high-pressure gas tank 5 and supplies it to the fuel cell 9 (see FIG. 1) or the engine.
The shutoff valve 8 is a release valve when the pressure after depressurization is high.
The pipe 12 is connected to the downstream side of the pipe 3 by a bypass pipe 21.

The operation of the fuel gas filling system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. (1) When high-pressure gas is filled with high pressure, first, the three-way valve 4 is switched so that the filling port 2 and the high-pressure gas tank 5 are connected. The three-way valve 4 and the high pressure gas tank 5 may be always connected. (2) A filling facility (not shown) is connected to the filling port 2 to fill the high-pressure gas tank 5 with hydrogen under high pressure. (3) After the filling is completed, the three-way valve 4 is switched so that the filling port 2 and the gas storage means 13 are connected. The pressure applied to the rubber sheet of the filling port 2 by this is the gas containing means 13
Since the volume increases due to the pipe 12 and the pipe 12,
Since the pressure applied to the rubber sheet at the filling port 2 is reduced, the rubber sheet can be protected. As a result, the structure of the first check valve 15 of the filling port 2 can be made relatively simple. (4) As the hydrogen in the high pressure gas tank 5 is consumed, the pressure in the high pressure gas tank 5 decreases. High pressure gas tank 5
When the internal pressure becomes lower than the internal pressures of the gas storage means 13 and the pipe 12, the second check valve 14 opens and hydrogen moves into the high pressure gas tank 5. As a result, the hydrogen high-pressure gas charged under high pressure can be used without waste. Further, the gas storage means 13 can be emptied in preparation for the next filling.
The three-way valve 4 is located on the high-pressure gas tank 5 side, and it is convenient because the three-way valve 4 is switched to the gas storage means 13 side and returned to the original position for a moment (short time) after completion of filling. Further, an ECU (Electric Control Unit) shown in FIG. 2 inputs a signal of an ignition key IG to switch and operate the three-way valve 4.

Next, another embodiment of the fuel gas filling system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the second check valve 14 is provided in the bypass pipe 21 connected to the downstream side of the pipe 3 instead of the pipe 12A on the downstream side of the pipe 12. Further, a switching valve was provided in the pipe 12A downstream of the pipe 12 connected to the gas storage means 13.

The operation of another embodiment of the fuel gas filling system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. (1) When high-pressure gas is filled with high pressure, first, the three-way valve 4 is switched so that the filling port 2 and the high-pressure gas tank 5 are connected. The three-way valve 4 and the high pressure gas tank 5 may be always connected. (2) A filling facility (not shown) is connected to the filling port 2 to fill the high-pressure gas tank 5 with hydrogen under high pressure. (3) After the filling is completed, the three-way valve 4 is switched so that the filling port 2 and the gas storage means 13 are connected. The pressure applied to the rubber sheet of the filling port 2 by this is the gas containing means 13
Since the volume increases due to the pipe 12 and the pipe 12,
Since the pressure applied to the rubber sheet at the filling port 2 is reduced, the rubber sheet can be protected. As a result, the structure of the first check valve 15 of the filling port 2 can be made relatively simple. Further, at this time, when the pressure on the supply pipe side (the pipe 3A on the downstream side (discharge side) of the high-pressure gas tank 5) is lower than that of the gas accommodating means 13, the second check valve 14 opens, and the supply pipe (pipe Hydrogen is transferred to 3A). (4) As the hydrogen in the high pressure gas tank 5 is consumed, the pressure in the high pressure gas tank 5 decreases. High pressure gas tank 5
When the internal pressure becomes lower than the internal pressures of the gas storage means 13 and the pipe 12, the second check valve 14 opens and hydrogen moves into the high pressure gas tank 5. As a result, the hydrogen high-pressure gas charged under high pressure can be used without waste. Further, the gas storage means 13 can be emptied in preparation for the next filling.

In this embodiment, the electric vehicle that uses hydrogen as the high-pressure gas to generate electricity has been described.
It can also be applied to (Compressed Natural Gas) vehicles (methane), hydrogen engine vehicles, or hybrid fuel vehicles (gasoline + hydrogen).

[0022]

As described above, in the fuel gas filling system according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the high pressure filling of the high pressure gas tank is performed, even if the filling pressure becomes high, the switching means is arranged on the gas storage means side. By switching to, the pressure can be released, and the pressure applied to the first check valve of the filling port can be reduced, so that the first check valve of the filling port can be protected. Consequently, the structure of the first check valve at the filling port can be made relatively simple.

In the fuel gas filling system according to the second aspect of the present invention, as the fuel gas in the high pressure gas tank is consumed, the gas pressure in the high pressure gas tank becomes lower than the pressure of the gas accommodating means. Since the check valve 2 is opened and the gas moves into the high pressure gas tank and can be consumed as fuel, the high pressure gas charged under high pressure can be efficiently used.

In the fuel gas filling system according to the third aspect of the present invention, after the filling is completed, the switching means is switched to the filling line by turning on the filling completion signal from the fuel gas filling system or the ignition switch in the vehicle. Since it can be automatically switched to the gas storage means side,
Switching can be done easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a piping system and the like of a fuel gas filling system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a detailed piping system and the like of essential parts of the fuel gas filling system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a detailed piping system and the like of essential parts showing another embodiment of the fuel gas filling system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Vehicle 2: Filling port 3,12: Piping 4: Three-way valve 5: High pressure gas tank 13: Gas accommodation means 14: Second check valve 15: First check valve 16: Third check valve 21: Bypass piping

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Koichi Takahisa             1-4-1 Chuo 1-4-1 Wako City, Saitama Prefecture             Inside Honda Research Laboratory (72) Inventor Yasuki Yoshida             1-4-1 Chuo 1-4-1 Wako City, Saitama Prefecture             Inside Honda Research Laboratory F term (reference) 3D038 CA11 CA15 CB01 CC04 CC18                 3E072 AA03 CA03 DA05 GA30

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A high-pressure gas tank is provided with a filling line for high-pressure filling with fuel gas, a first check valve is provided at a filling port of the filling line, and a gas storage means is provided in parallel with the filling line. the fuel gas filling system characterized after filling the fuel gas, in that a switching means for switching the filling line to the gas containing means side. 2. The fuel gas filling system according to claim 1, wherein the gas containing means is connected to the high pressure gas tank side through a second check valve. 3. When the fuel gas filling system is mounted on a vehicle, the switching of the filling line from the filling line to the side of the gas storage means is performed by a filling end signal from the fuel gas filling system, or The fuel gas filling system according to claim 1 or 2, which is performed by turning on / off an ignition switch of the vehicle.