EP4617552A1

EP4617552A1 - Hydrogen transfer system and hydrogen transfer method

Info

Publication number: EP4617552A1
Application number: EP23888442.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kentaro OKUMURA; Masato Nakai; Kojiro MOTOYAMA
Original assignee: Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd; Kawasaki Jukogyo KK
Current assignee: Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd; Kawasaki Motors Ltd
Priority date: 2022-11-07
Filing date: 2023-10-17
Publication date: 2025-09-17
Also published as: KR20250081925A; CN119790262A; JP2024067747A; WO2024101090A1

Abstract

A hydrogen transfer system according to one aspect includes: a hydrogen transfer passage through which a hydrogen gas or a hydrogen gas obtained by vaporizing liquefied hydrogen is transferred from a hydrogen supply source to a hydrogen transfer destination; an inhibitor supply source; and an inhibitor supply passage which connects the inhibitor supply source and a connection portion of the hydrogen transfer passage and through which an inhibitor is introduced from the inhibitor supply source to the connection portion.

Description

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a hydrogen transfer system and a hydrogen transfer method.

Background Art

PTL 1 discloses a system that supplies liquid hydrogen, stored in a tank or the like, as a hydrogen gas to a use point.

Citation List

Patent Literature

PTL 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2016-070301

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

Known is hydrogen embrittlement in which the strength and toughness of a metal material are deteriorated by hydrogen. In a system that transfers hydrogen from a hydrogen transfer source to a hydrogen transfer destination, the hydrogen embrittlement is desired to be suppressed.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a hydrogen transfer system and a hydrogen transfer method which can suppress the hydrogen embrittlement.

Solution to Problem

A hydrogen transfer system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a hydrogen transfer passage through which a hydrogen gas or a hydrogen gas obtained by vaporizing liquefied hydrogen is transferred from a hydrogen supply source to a hydrogen transfer destination; an inhibitor supply source; and an inhibitor supply passage which connects the inhibitor supply source and a connection portion of the hydrogen transfer passage and through which an inhibitor is introduced from the inhibitor supply source to the connection portion.
A hydrogen transfer method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: making a hydrogen gas or a hydrogen gas obtained by vaporizing liquefied hydrogen flow from a hydrogen supply source, which supplies the hydrogen gas or the liquefied hydrogen, through a hydrogen transfer passage to a hydrogen transfer destination; and adding an inhibitor to the hydrogen gas at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage through which the hydrogen gas flows.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present disclosure can provide the hydrogen transfer system and the hydrogen transfer method which can suppress the hydrogen embrittlement.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hydrogen transfer system according to Embodiment 1.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the hydrogen transfer system according to Modified Example 1.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the hydrogen transfer system according to Embodiment 2.
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the hydrogen transfer system according to Modified Example 2.
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of the hydrogen transfer system according to Modified Example 3.

Description of Embodiments

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hydrogen transfer system 1A according to Embodiment 1.
The hydrogen transfer system 1A is a system that transfers a hydrogen gas from a hydrogen supply source 2 to a gas consumer 3. The hydrogen supply source 2 supplies liquefied hydrogen. The hydrogen gas is obtained by vaporizing the liquefied hydrogen. The gas consumer 3 is a hydrogen transfer destination. In the present embodiment, the hydrogen supply source 2 is a storage that stores the liquefied hydrogen. Moreover, the gas consumer 3 is a hydrogen gas engine that uses the hydrogen gas as fuel. To be specific, the hydrogen transfer system 1A of the present embodiment is a fuel supply system that supplies hydrogen gas fuel to the hydrogen gas engine.
The hydrogen transfer system 1A includes a hydrogen transfer passage 4, a booster 5, a vaporizer 6, an inhibitor supply source 7, and an inhibitor supply passage 8. The passages, such as the hydrogen transfer passage 4 and the inhibitor supply passage 8, which are described in the present description are constituted by pipes, equipment, etc. through which a fluid flows.
The hydrogen transfer passage 4 introduces the liquefied hydrogen or the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen supply source 2 to the gas consumer 3. The pipe and equipment constituting the hydrogen transfer passage 4 are made of metal. In the present embodiment, the hydrogen transfer passage 4 connects the hydrogen supply source 2 and the gas consumer 3. More specifically, an upstream end portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 is connected to a fluid outlet of the storage that is the hydrogen supply source 2, and a downstream end portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 is connected to a fuel injection valve of the hydrogen gas engine that is the gas consumer 3.
In the present embodiment, the hydrogen gas engine that is the gas consumer 3 is a direct injection engine that directly injects hydrogen fuel into a cylinder. The hydrogen gas having high pressure of, for example, 20 MPa or more is required as the hydrogen gas to be supplied to the fuel injection valve.
The booster 5 is located at the hydrogen transfer passage 4. The booster 5 increases the pressure of the liquefied hydrogen which has been introduced from the hydrogen supply source 2 through a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located upstream of the booster 5. For example, the booster 5 is a high-pressure liquefied hydrogen pump.
The vaporizer 6 is located at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located downstream of the booster 5. The liquefied hydrogen which has been increased in pressure by the booster 5 flows into the vaporizer 6. The vaporizer 6 generates the hydrogen gas by vaporizing the liquefied hydrogen which has been increased in pressure by the booster 5.
The vaporizer 6 is configured such that the temperature and pressure of the hydrogen gas flowing out from an outlet 6a thereof become a predetermined temperature and predetermined pressure. The predetermined temperature and the predetermined pressure are such temperature and such pressure that even when an oxygen gas that is a below-described inhibitor is brought into contact with the hydrogen gas flowing out from the outlet 6a, the oxygen gas does not liquefy.
The inhibitor supply source 7 is a supply source of the inhibitor to be mixed with the hydrogen gas flowing through the hydrogen transfer passage 4. The inhibitor is added to the hydrogen gas to suppress hydrogen embrittlement of a metal material by the hydrogen gas. In the present embodiment, the inhibitor is the oxygen gas. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the inhibitor supply source 7 is an oxygen bomb that stores the oxygen gas in a high-pressure state.
The inhibitor supply passage 8 connects the inhibitor supply source 7 and a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located downstream of the vaporizer 6. More specifically, one end portion of the inhibitor supply passage 8 is connected to a discharge port of the oxygen bomb that is the inhibitor supply source 7, and the other end portion of the inhibitor supply passage 8 is connected to the portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located downstream of the vaporizer 6. Hereinafter, the portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is connected to the inhibitor supply passage 8 may be simply referred to as a "connection portion 4a." The connection portion 4a is positioned in the vicinity of the outlet 6a of the vaporizer 6. This is to lengthen as much as possible a range of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 at which the effect of suppressing the hydrogen embrittlement is obtained.
Moreover, the hydrogen transfer system 1A includes a flow regulating valve 11, a flow rate sensor 12, and a controller 13.
The flow regulating valve 11 is located at the inhibitor supply passage 8. The flow regulating valve 11 controls the flow rate of the inhibitor supplied from the inhibitor supply source 7 through the inhibitor supply passage 8 to the hydrogen transfer passage 4. In the present embodiment, the flow regulating valve 11 is an automatic valve whose opening degree is adjusted by an electric signal form the controller 13.
The flow rate sensor 12 is located at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located between the vaporizer 6 and the connection portion 4a. The flow rate sensor 12 detects the flow rate of the hydrogen gas flowing through the portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located between the vaporizer 6 and the connection portion 4a, i.e., the flow rate sensor 12 detects the flow rate of the hydrogen gas flowing to the connection portion 4a.
The controller 13 includes a calculation processing unit, a memory, and the like in terms of hardware. The calculation processing unit includes, for example, a processor. The memory includes a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, and the like. The controller 13 performs various types of processing in such a manner that the calculation unit reads and executes a program stored in the memory. The controller 13 may be constituted by a single device, circuit, or the like which performs centralized control or may be constituted by devices, circuits, and the like which cooperate to perform distributed control.
The controller 13 is communicably connected to the flow regulating valve 11 and the flow rate sensor 12. The controller 13 receives flow rate information detected by the flow rate sensor 12. The controller 13 controls the flow regulating valve 11 based on the flow rate information detected by the flow rate sensor 12.
Specifically, the controller 13 controls the flow regulating valve 11 based on the flow rate information detected by the flow rate sensor 12 such that a ratio of the inhibitor in the hydrogen gas flowing through a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located downstream of the connection portion 4a becomes a set value. The set value is set such that the effect of suppressing the hydrogen embrittlement is obtained, and a requirement of the hydrogen transfer destination is satisfied. For example, the controller 13 controls the flow regulating valve 11 such that a volume fraction of the inhibitor in the hydrogen gas becomes 0.1%.
The ratio of the inhibitor in the hydrogen gas by which the effect of suppressing the hydrogen embrittlement is obtained varies depending on the type of the metal material as a target of the suppression of the hydrogen embrittlement, the type of the inhibitor added to the hydrogen gas, and the like. The ratio of the inhibitor which is allowed by the supplied hydrogen gas also varies depending on the hydrogen transfer destination. Therefore, the set value is suitably set depending on the type of the metal material as the target of the suppression of the hydrogen embrittlement, the type of the inhibitor added to the hydrogen gas, the type of equipment as the hydrogen transfer destination, and the like.
An on-off valve 9 is located at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located between the hydrogen supply source 2 and the booster 5. When the liquefied hydrogen is introduced from the hydrogen supply source 2 to the booster 5 with the on-off valve 9 in an open state, the liquefied hydrogen is increased in pressure by the booster 5. The liquefied hydrogen which has been increased in pressure by the booster 5 flows into the vaporizer 6, and the hydrogen gas is generated by the vaporizer 6. After the hydrogen gas flows out from the vaporizer 6, the inhibitor is added to the hydrogen gas at the connection portion 4a of the hydrogen transfer passage 4. Thus, the hydrogen gas to which the inhibitor has been added is introduced to the gas consumer 3 through the portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located downstream of the connection portion 4a.
As described above, in the hydrogen transfer system 1A of the present embodiment, the hydrogen gas to which the inhibitor has been added flows through the portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located downstream of the connection portion 4a connected to the inhibitor supply passage 8. Therefore, the hydrogen embrittlement of the metal material of the portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located downstream of the connection portion 4a connected to the inhibitor supply passage 8 can be suppressed.
Thus, as the metal material constituting the pipe and equipment constituting at least a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located at a position where the inhibitor is added and the portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located downstream of this position, a material which easily causes the hydrogen embrittlement but is high in strength can be easily used. Examples of such material which easily causes the hydrogen embrittlement but is high in strength include: a nickel alloy that is high in strength; and a titanium alloy that is high in specific strength.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, the booster 5 is located at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located upstream of the connection portion 4a, and the vaporizer 6 is located at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located between the booster 5 and the connection portion 4a. Therefore, the inhibitor can be prevented from contacting the liquefied hydrogen, i.e., the inhibitor can be prevented from being liquefied by the liquefied hydrogen.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, the flow regulating valve 11 is located at the inhibitor supply passage 8. Therefore, by adjusting the flow regulating valve 11, the ratio of the inhibitor added to the hydrogen gas can be adjusted such that the effect of suppressing the hydrogen embrittlement is obtained, and the requirement of the hydrogen transfer destination is satisfied.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, the controller 13 controls the flow regulating valve 11 based on the flow rate information detected by the flow rate sensor 12. Therefore, the ratio of the inhibitor added to the hydrogen gas can be adjusted with a high degree of accuracy.

Modified Example 1

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hydrogen transfer system 1B according to Modified Example 1. In the explanations of Modified Example 1 and Modified Examples 2 and 3 described below, the same reference signs are used for substantially the same components as Embodiment 1 described above and Embodiment 2 described below, the repetition of the same explanation is avoided, or such explanation is simplified.
In Modified Example 1, instead of the flow regulating valve 11, a booster 15 is located at the inhibitor supply passage 8. The booster 15 increases the pressure of the inhibitor, i.e., the oxygen gas supplied from the inhibitor supply source 7 through the inhibitor supply passage 8 to the hydrogen transfer passage 4. In Modified Example 1, the booster 15 is a compressor.
According to Modified Example 1, even when the pressure of the hydrogen gas flowing through a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located downstream of the vaporizer 6 is higher than gas pressure of the inhibitor supplied by the inhibitor supply source 7, the inhibitor supplied from the inhibitor supply source 7 is compressed by the booster 15, and therefore, the inhibitor can be supplied to the portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 which is located downstream of the vaporizer 6. Thus, since the inhibitor supply source 7 is not required to supply the inhibitor in a high-pressure state, the inhibitor supply source 7 can be simplified.
As shown in FIG. 2, the hydrogen transfer system 1B of Modified Example 1 does not include the flow regulating valve 11, the flow rate sensor 12, and the controller 13. However, in addition to the booster 15, the hydrogen transfer system 1B may include the flow regulating valve 11, the flow rate sensor 12, and the controller 13.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hydrogen transfer system 1C according to Embodiment 2.
The hydrogen transfer system 1C is a system that transfers the hydrogen gas from a hydrogen supply source 21 to a gas consumer 22. The hydrogen supply source 21 supplies the hydrogen gas, and the gas consumer 22 is the hydrogen transfer destination. In the present embodiment, the hydrogen supply source 21 is a storage that stores the hydrogen gas. Moreover, the gas consumer 22 is a hydrogen gas engine that uses the hydrogen gas as fuel. To be specific, the hydrogen transfer system 1C of the present embodiment is a fuel supply system that supplies hydrogen gas fuel to the hydrogen gas engine.
The hydrogen transfer system 1C includes a hydrogen transfer passage 23, a booster 24, an inhibitor supply source 25, and an inhibitor supply passage 26.
The hydrogen transfer passage 23 introduces the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen supply source 21 to the gas consumer 22. The hydrogen transfer passage 23 is made of metal. In the present embodiment, the hydrogen transfer passage 23 connects the hydrogen supply source 21 and the gas consumer 22. More specifically, an upstream end portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 23 is connected to a fluid outlet of the storage that is the hydrogen supply source 21, and a downstream end portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 23 is connected to a fuel injection valve of the hydrogen gas engine that is the gas consumer 22.
In the present embodiment, the hydrogen gas engine that is the gas consumer 22 is a direct injection engine that directly injects hydrogen fuel into a cylinder. The hydrogen gas having high pressure of, for example, 20 MPa or more is required as the hydrogen gas to be supplied to the fuel injection valve.
The booster 24 is located at the hydrogen transfer passage 23. The booster 24 increases the pressure of the hydrogen gas which has been introduced from the hydrogen supply source 21 to a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 23 which is located upstream of the booster 24. For example, the booster 24 is a rotary compressor. The booster 24 may be a different type of compressor, such as a turbo compressor or a reciprocating compressor.
The inhibitor supply source 25 is a supply source of the inhibitor to be mixed with the hydrogen gas flowing through the hydrogen transfer passage 23. The inhibitor is added to the hydrogen gas to suppress hydrogen embrittlement of a metal material by the hydrogen gas. In the present embodiment, the inhibitor is an oxygen gas. Moreover, the inhibitor supply source 25 is an oxygen bomb that stores the oxygen gas in a high-pressure state.
The inhibitor supply passage 26 connects the inhibitor supply source 25 and a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 23 which is located upstream of the booster 24. More specifically, one end portion of the inhibitor supply passage 26 is connected to a discharge port of the oxygen bomb that is the inhibitor supply source 25, and the other end portion of the inhibitor supply passage 26 is connected to a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 23 which is located upstream of the booster 24. Hereinafter, a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 23 which is connected to the inhibitor supply passage 26 may be simply referred to as a "connection portion 23a."
Moreover, the hydrogen transfer system 1C includes a flow regulating valve 31, a flow rate sensor 32, and a controller 33.
The flow regulating valve 31 is located at the inhibitor supply passage 26. The flow regulating valve 31 controls the flow rate of the inhibitor supplied from the inhibitor supply source 25 through the inhibitor supply passage 26 to the hydrogen transfer passage 23. In the present embodiment, the flow regulating valve 31 is an automatic valve whose opening degree is adjusted by an electric signal from the controller 33.
The flow rate sensor 32 is located at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 23 which is located upstream of the connection portion 23a. The flow rate sensor 32 detects the flow rate of the hydrogen gas flowing through the portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 23 which is located upstream of the connection portion 23a, i.e., the flow rate sensor 32 detects the flow rate of the hydrogen gas flowing to the connection portion 23a.
The controller 33 includes a calculation processing unit, a memory, and the like in terms of hardware. The calculation processing unit includes, for example, a processor. The memory includes a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, and the like. The controller 33 performs various types of processing in such a manner that the calculation unit reads and executes a program stored in the memory. The controller 33 may be constituted by a single device, circuit, or the like which performs centralized control or may be constituted by devices, circuits, and the like which cooperate to perform distributed control.
The controller 33 is communicably connected to the flow regulating valve 31 and the flow rate sensor 32. The controller 33 receives flow rate information detected by the flow rate sensor 32. The controller 33 controls the flow regulating valve 31 based on the flow rate information detected by the flow rate sensor 32.
Specifically, the controller 33 controls the flow regulating valve 31 based on the flow rate information detected by the flow rate sensor 32 such that a ratio of the inhibitor in the hydrogen gas flowing through a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 23 which is located downstream of the connection portion 23a becomes a set value. The set value is set such that the effect of suppressing the hydrogen embrittlement is obtained, and a requirement of the hydrogen transfer destination is satisfied. For example, the controller 33 controls the flow regulating valve 31 such that a volume fraction of the inhibitor in the hydrogen gas becomes 0.1%.
An on-off valve 27 is located at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 23 which is located upstream of the connection portion 23a. With the on-off valve 27 in an open state, the hydrogen gas flows from the hydrogen supply source 21 to the connection portion 23a. At the connection portion 23a of the hydrogen transfer passage 23, the inhibitor is added to the hydrogen gas flowing through the hydrogen transfer passage 23. Thus, the hydrogen gas to which the inhibitor has been added is increased in pressure by the booster 24, and then, is introduced to the gas consumer 22.
The present embodiment can obtain similar effects to Embodiment 1.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, before the hydrogen gas is increased in pressure by the booster 24, the inhibitor can be added to the hydrogen gas. Thus, the hydrogen embrittlement of the metal material constituting the booster 24 can be suppressed.

Other Embodiments

The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure.
For example, the hydrogen supply source may be able to supply the liquefied hydrogen or the hydrogen gas. For example, the hydrogen supply source may include a hydrogen storage that stores the liquefied hydrogen or the hydrogen gas. Or, for example, the hydrogen supply source may include a hydrogen generator that generates the liquefied hydrogen or the hydrogen gas.
In the above embodiments, the gas consumer is the hydrogen gas engine. However, the gas consumer is not limited to this. For example, the gas consumer that consumes the hydrogen gas as the fuel may be a hydrogen gas turbine, a hydrogen gas engine, or a hydrogen fuel boiler. Moreover, the hydrogen transfer destination does not have to be the gas consumer that consumes the hydrogen gas. For example, the hydrogen transfer destination may be a facility or storage, such as a hydrogen gas station, which stores the hydrogen gas.
In the above embodiments, the inhibitor is oxygen. However, the inhibitor that suppresses the hydrogen embrittlement is not limited to this. For example, the inhibitor may be a different type of gas, such as air, carbon monoxide, or sulfur dioxide.
In the above embodiments, the oxygen bomb is described as one example of the inhibitor supply source. However, the inhibitor supply source is not limited to this. For example, the inhibitor supply source may be a pressure vessel, such as a bomb, which stores the inhibitor or may be equipment that generates the inhibitor. When the inhibitor supply source is an inhibitor generator, the inhibitor generator does not have to be equipment dedicated for the generation of the inhibitor.
For example, FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hydrogen transfer system 1D according to Modified Example 2. In the hydrogen transfer system 1D, instead of the oxygen gas, for example, sulfur dioxide in the exhaust gas of the hydrogen engine is utilized as the inhibitor to be added to the hydrogen gas. Specifically, the gas consumer 3 that is the hydrogen transfer destination is a hydrogen engine that consumes the hydrogen gas introduced through the hydrogen transfer passage 4 and engine oil to discharge an exhaust gas containing sulfur dioxide. The hydrogen transfer system 1D includes an exhaust passage 41 through which the exhaust gas generated by the hydrogen engine 3 is transferred to an inhibitor supply source 42. The inhibitor supply source 42 supplies the sulfur dioxide in the exhaust gas, which has been introduced through the exhaust passage 41, as the inhibitor to the inhibitor supply passage 8. As above, the gas consumer that is the hydrogen transfer destination may be the inhibitor supply source.
Moreover, the hydrogen supply source may include a hydrogen generator that electrolyzes water to generate hydrogen and oxygen. In this case, the hydrogen generator that is the hydrogen supply source may also serve as the inhibitor supply source.
For example, FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hydrogen transfer system 1E according to Modified Example 3. The hydrogen transfer system 1E includes a hydrogen generator 51 that electrolyzes water to generate hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen generator 51 serves as both of a hydrogen supply source and an inhibitor supply source. To be specific, the hydrogen transfer passage 23 introduces the hydrogen gas, generated by the hydrogen generator, from the hydrogen generator 51 that is the hydrogen supply source to the gas consumer 22. Moreover, the inhibitor supply passage 26 introduces the oxygen gas, which has been generated by the hydrogen generator 51, as the inhibitor to the connection portion 23a. The remaining oxygen gas which is not added at the connection portion 23a in the entire oxygen gas generated by the hydrogen generator 51 may be stored in a tank or the like.
Moreover, in Embodiment 1, the connection portion 4a is positioned in the vicinity of the outlet 6a of the vaporizer 6. However, a distance between the connection portion 4a of the hydrogen transfer passage 4 and the outlet 6a of the vaporizer 6 may be adequately long. Moreover, when the hydrogen gas which has flowed out from the vaporizer 6 increases in temperature to have a predetermined temperature or more before the hydrogen gas reaches the connection portion 4a that is a position where the inhibitor is added, the vaporizer 6 does not have to be configured such that the temperature of the hydrogen gas flowing out from the outlet 6a becomes the predetermined temperature or more. However, to widen a range where the effect of suppressing the hydrogen embrittlement is obtained, it is preferable that: the vaporizer 6 be configured such that the temperature of the hydrogen gas flowing out from the outlet 6a becomes not less than a predetermined temperature at which the inhibitor does not liquefy even when the inhibitor contacts the hydrogen gas; and the connection portion 4a be positioned in the vicinity of the outlet 6a of the vaporizer 6.
The above embodiments have described that the flow regulating valve is the automatic valve controlled by the electric signal from the controller. However, the flow regulating valve may be a manual valve that can be manually operated. When the flow regulating valve is the manual valve, the ratio of the inhibitor added to the hydrogen gas can be adjusted by a simple configuration.
Moreover, in the above embodiments, the controller controls the flow regulating valve based on the flow rate information detected by the flow rate sensor. However, the method of adjusting the flow regulating valve is not limited to this.
For example, the hydrogen transfer system may include a gas concentration sensor that detects the concentration of the inhibitor in the gas in the hydrogen transfer passage, and the controller may control the flow regulating valve based on concentration information detected by the gas concentration sensor. For example, the controller may control the flow regulating valve such that the concentration information detected by the gas concentration sensor becomes a set value. Even by this configuration, the ratio of the inhibitor added to the hydrogen gas can be adjusted with a high degree of accuracy. The gas concentration sensor may be located at, for example, a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is connected to the inhibitor supply passage or a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located downstream of the above portion connected to the inhibitor supply passage. For example, when the configuration of Embodiment 2 includes the gas concentration sensor, the gas concentration sensor may be located at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage 23 which is located between the connection portion 23a and the booster 24.
The configurations described in Embodiments 1 and 2, Modified Examples 1 to 3, and the other embodiments may be suitably combined with each other.
The functionality of the elements disclosed herein may be implemented using circuitry or processing circuitry which includes general purpose processors, special purpose processors, integrated circuits, ASICs ("Application Specific Integrated Circuits"), conventional circuitry or any combinations thereof which are configured or programmed to perform the disclosed functionality. Processors are considered processing circuitry or circuitry as they include transistors and other circuitry therein. In the disclosure, the circuitry, units, or means are hardware that carry out or are programmed to perform the recited functionality. The hardware may be any hardware disclosed herein or otherwise known which is programmed or configured to carry out the recited functionality. When the hardware is a processor which may be considered a type of circuitry, the circuitry, means, or units are a combination of hardware and software, the software being used to configure the hardware or processor.

Disclosed Aspects

The following aspects disclose preferred embodiments.

First Aspect

A hydrogen transfer system including:

a hydrogen transfer passage through which a hydrogen gas or a hydrogen gas obtained by vaporizing liquefied hydrogen is transferred from a hydrogen supply source to a hydrogen transfer destination;
an inhibitor supply source; and
an inhibitor supply passage which connects the inhibitor supply source and a connection portion of the hydrogen transfer passage and through which an inhibitor is introduced from the inhibitor supply source to the connection portion.

According to the above configuration, the hydrogen gas to which the inhibitor has been added flows through a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located downstream of the connection portion connected to the inhibitor supply passage. Therefore, the hydrogen embrittlement of the metal material of the portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located downstream of the connection portion connected to the inhibitor supply passage can be suppressed.

Second Aspect

The hydrogen transfer system according to the first aspect, wherein the hydrogen supply source supplies the liquefied hydrogen,
the hydrogen transfer system further including:

a booster that is located at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located upstream of the connection portion, and increases pressure of the liquefied hydrogen which has been introduced from the hydrogen supply source; and
a vaporizer that is located at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located between the booster and the connection portion, and vaporizes the liquefied hydrogen which has been increased in pressure by the booster.

According to the above configuration, the inhibitor can be prevented from contacting the liquefied hydrogen, i.e., the inhibitor can be prevented from being liquefied by the liquefied hydrogen.

Third Aspect

The hydrogen transfer system according to the first aspect, wherein the hydrogen supply source supplies the hydrogen gas,
the hydrogen transfer system further including a booster that is located at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located downstream of the connection portion, and increases pressure of the hydrogen gas which has been introduced from the hydrogen supply source.
According to the above configuration, before the hydrogen gas is increased in pressure by the booster, the inhibitor can be added to the hydrogen gas. Thus, the hydrogen embrittlement of the metal material constituting the booster can be suppressed.

Fourth Aspect

The hydrogen transfer system according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the inhibitor includes oxygen, air, carbon monoxide, or sulfur dioxide.

Fifth Aspect

The hydrogen transfer system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein:

the hydrogen transfer destination includes a gas consumer that consumes the hydrogen gas; and
the gas consumer includes a hydrogen gas turbine, a hydrogen gas engine, or a hydrogen fuel boiler.

Sixth Aspect

The hydrogen transfer system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, further including a flow regulating valve located at the inhibitor supply passage.
According to the above configuration, by adjusting the flow regulating valve, the ratio of the inhibitor added to the hydrogen gas can be adjusted such that the effect of suppressing the hydrogen embrittlement is obtained, and the requirement of the hydrogen transfer destination is satisfied.

Seventh Aspect

The hydrogen transfer system according to the sixth aspect, further including:

a flow rate sensor that detects a flow rate of the hydrogen gas flowing through a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located upstream of the connection portion; and
a controller that controls the flow regulating valve based on flow rate information detected by the flow rate sensor.

According to the above configuration, the ratio of the inhibitor added to the hydrogen gas can be adjusted with a high degree of accuracy.

Eighth Aspect

The hydrogen transfer system according to the sixth aspect, further including:

a gas concentration sensor that detects a concentration of the inhibitor in the gas in the hydrogen transfer passage ; and
a controller that controls the flow regulating valve based on concentration information detected by the gas concentration sensor.

Ninth Aspect

The hydrogen transfer system according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein:

the hydrogen transfer destination includes a hydrogen engine that combusts the hydrogen gas introduced through the hydrogen transfer passage and oil to discharge an exhaust gas containing sulfur dioxide;
the hydrogen transfer system further includes an exhaust passage through which the exhaust gas generated by the hydrogen engine is transferred to the inhibitor supply source; and
the inhibitor supply source supplies the sulfur dioxide of the exhaust gas, which has been introduced through the exhaust passage, as the inhibitor to the inhibitor supply passage.

According to the above configuration, the sulfur dioxide in the exhaust gas can be effectively utilized.

Tenth Aspect

the inhibitor supply source includes a hydrogen generator that serves as the hydrogen supply source and electrolyzes water to generate the hydrogen gas and an oxygen gas;
the hydrogen transfer passage transfers the hydrogen gas, which has been generated by the hydrogen generator, to the hydrogen transfer destination; and
the inhibitor supply passage introduces the oxygen gas, which has been generated by the hydrogen generator, as the inhibitor to the connection portion.

According to the above configuration, it is unnecessary to prepare the inhibitor supply source independently from the hydrogen supply source.

Eleventh Aspect

A hydrogen transfer method including:

making a hydrogen gas or a hydrogen gas obtained by vaporizing liquefied hydrogen flow from a hydrogen supply source, which supplies the hydrogen gas or the liquefied hydrogen, through a hydrogen transfer passage to a hydrogen transfer destination; and
adding an inhibitor to the hydrogen gas at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage through which the hydrogen gas flows.

According to the above method, the hydrogen embrittlement of the metal material of a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located at a position where the inhibitor is added and a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located downstream of this position can be suppressed.

Reference Signs List

1A: hydrogen transfer system
1B: hydrogen transfer system
1C: hydrogen transfer system
1D: hydrogen transfer system
1E: hydrogen transfer system
2: hydrogen supply source
3: gas consumer
4: hydrogen transfer passage
4a: connection portion
5: booster
6: vaporizer
7: inhibitor supply source
8: inhibitor supply passage
11: flow regulating valve
12: flow rate sensor
13: controller
15: booster
21: hydrogen supply source
22: gas consumer
23: hydrogen transfer passage
23a: connection portion
24: booster
25: inhibitor supply source
26: inhibitor supply passage
31: flow regulating valve
32: flow rate sensor
33: controller
41: exhaust passage
42: inhibitor supply source
51: hydrogen generator

Claims

A hydrogen transfer system comprising:
a hydrogen transfer passage through which a hydrogen gas or a hydrogen gas obtained by vaporizing liquefied hydrogen is transferred from a hydrogen supply source to a hydrogen transfer destination;

an inhibitor supply source; and

an inhibitor supply passage which connects the inhibitor supply source and a connection portion of the hydrogen transfer passage and through which an inhibitor is introduced from the inhibitor supply source to the connection portion.
The hydrogen transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen supply source supplies the liquefied hydrogen,
the hydrogen transfer system further comprising:
a booster that is located at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located upstream of the connection portion, and increases pressure of the liquefied hydrogen which has been introduced from the hydrogen supply source; and

a vaporizer that is located at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located between the booster and the connection portion, and vaporizes the liquefied hydrogen which has been increased in pressure by the booster.
The hydrogen transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen supply source supplies the hydrogen gas,
the hydrogen transfer system further comprising a booster that is located at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located downstream of the connection portion, and increases pressure of the hydrogen gas which has been introduced from the hydrogen supply source.
The hydrogen transfer system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inhibitor includes oxygen, air, carbon monoxide, or sulfur dioxide.
The hydrogen transfer system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:
the hydrogen transfer destination includes a gas consumer that consumes the hydrogen gas; and

the gas consumer includes a hydrogen gas turbine, a hydrogen gas engine, or a hydrogen fuel boiler.
The hydrogen transfer system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a flow regulating valve located at the inhibitor supply passage.
The hydrogen transfer system according to claim 6, further comprising:
a flow rate sensor that detects a flow rate of the hydrogen gas flowing through a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage which is located upstream of the connection portion; and

a controller that controls the flow regulating valve based on flow rate information detected by the flow rate sensor.
The hydrogen transfer system according to claim 6, further comprising:
a gas concentration sensor that detects a concentration of the inhibitor in a gas in the hydrogen transfer passage; and

a controller that controls the flow regulating valve based on concentration information detected by the gas concentration sensor.
The hydrogen transfer system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:
the hydrogen transfer destination includes a hydrogen engine that combusts the hydrogen gas introduced through the hydrogen transfer passage and oil to discharge an exhaust gas containing sulfur dioxide;

the hydrogen transfer system further comprises an exhaust passage through which the exhaust gas generated by the hydrogen engine is transferred to the inhibitor supply source; and

the inhibitor supply source supplies the sulfur dioxide of the exhaust gas, which has been introduced through the exhaust passage, as the inhibitor to the inhibitor supply passage.
The hydrogen transfer system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:
the inhibitor supply source includes a hydrogen generator that serves as the hydrogen supply source and electrolyzes water to generate the hydrogen gas and an oxygen gas;

the hydrogen transfer passage transfers the hydrogen gas, which has been generated by the hydrogen generator, to the hydrogen transfer destination; and

the inhibitor supply passage introduces the oxygen gas, which has been generated by the hydrogen generator, as the inhibitor to the connection portion.
A hydrogen transfer method comprising:
making a hydrogen gas or a hydrogen gas obtained by vaporizing liquefied hydrogen flow from a hydrogen supply source, which supplies the hydrogen gas or the liquefied hydrogen, through a hydrogen transfer passage to a hydrogen transfer destination; and

adding an inhibitor to the hydrogen gas at a portion of the hydrogen transfer passage through which the hydrogen gas flows.