JP2000225853A - Gas exhaust construction of on-vehicle fuel-cell - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately exhaust gas from a fuel-cell outside a vehicle by forming a gas exhaust passage from a fuel-cell unit, through the side sill and pillars of a vehicle body, to the opening parts outside the vehicle room of a side roof rail. SOLUTION: The casing 2 of a fuel-cell unit F is formed with a plurality of gas exhaust ports 3 on the ceiling plane, a first piping 4 is fitted to the respective gas exhaust ports 3. The first piping 4 is conducted from the gas exhaust ports 3 of the casing 2 of the fuel-cell unit F, penetrating through a floor panel 5, into a side sill 6. Meanwhile a second pipings 10 are conducted in the bag construction of a front pillar 7, a center pillar 8, and a rear pillar 9, a side roof rail communicated to the respecctive second pipings is formed with opening parts 12a, 12b, 12c, and louvres 14a, 14b, 14c are mounted thereon.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas discharge structure of a vehicle fuel cell, and more particularly to a gas discharge structure of a vehicle fuel cell capable of naturally exhausting hydrogen gas generated from the fuel cell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A fuel cell system is a device for directly converting energy of fuel into electric energy, and supplies a fuel gas containing hydrogen to an anode of a pair of electrodes provided with an electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween. At the same time, a fuel gas containing oxygen is supplied to the other cathode, and electric energy is extracted from the electrodes by utilizing the following electrochemical reaction that occurs on the surface of the pair of electrodes on the electrolyte membrane side (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 9-122572). 8-106914).

[0003]

## STR1 ## anode ^{_{reaction: H 2 → 2H + + 2e}} - cathodic ^{reaction: 2H + + 2e - + (} 1/2) O 2 → H
₂ O As a device for generating a fuel gas supplied to a pair of electrodes, as a device for generating a fuel gas containing hydrogen, a reformer for converting methanol into a fuel gas containing a large amount of hydrogen by steam reforming methanol; As a device for generating a fuel gas containing oxygen, a compressor that takes in air to generate compressed air is used. After the compressed air from the compressor is cooled by an aftercooler, the compressed air is supplied to the cathode (air electrode) of the fuel cell, while methanol is sent from the fuel tank to the reformer and reformed by the reformer. A hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the anode (fuel electrode) of the fuel cell.

[0004] Such a fuel cell system is unitized and mounted on the floor of a car or the like, from which electric power is supplied to a motor or the like.

[0005]

In a fuel cell system, surplus hydrogen gas in a fuel cell is discharged to the outside of the system. Gas may be trapped in its vicinity.

[0006] For this reason, a conventional vehicle fuel cell system is provided with a ventilator for smoothly diffusing hydrogen gas into the atmosphere.
The cost is increased by that much, and it is necessary to secure a space for installing a ventilation device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has been made in consideration of the above-described problems. The purpose is to provide a structure.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gas discharge structure for an on-vehicle fuel cell, comprising: a fuel cell unit mounted on the back of a floor; The gas exhaust passage extends to an opening formed outside the vehicle compartment of the side roof rail through the gas exhaust passage.

As a specific embodiment, a gas discharge structure for an on-vehicle fuel cell according to claim 2 is mounted on the floor behind a vehicle body and has a gas discharge port formed therein, and a fuel cell unit having a side roof rail of the vehicle body. A louver having an opening on the outside of the vehicle compartment, and a first end connected to a gas outlet of the fuel cell unit and being routed in a side sill of the vehicle body.
And a second pipe routed inside a pillar of the vehicle body such that one end is connected to the other end of the first pipe and the other end communicates with the opening of the louver. It is characterized by the following.

The gas discharged from the fuel cell is mainly hydrogen gas, which is lighter than air. Therefore, when the fuel cell unit is mounted on the floor behind the vehicle body, the floor panel interferes with the diffusion of the fuel cell into the atmosphere. Although it is conceivable that the operation is not sufficiently performed, the gas discharge structure of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell of the present invention has a high flowability with the atmosphere even when the vehicle is stopped, from the floor, through the side sill and the bag structure of the pillars. Since the gas is exhausted from the opening of the side roof rail, the diffusibility of this kind of exhaust gas into the atmosphere is significantly improved.

Also, when the first and second pipes are routed around the vehicle body, since the inside of a bag structure such as a side sill or a pillar is used, there is no problem in design.
Further, by forming the opening through which the gas is discharged in a portion of the side roof rail that is concealed when the side door is closed, the design can be prevented from being impaired.

Although not particularly limited in the second aspect of the present invention, in the gas discharge structure for an on-vehicle fuel cell according to the third aspect, the gas discharge port of the fuel cell unit is provided at the highest position of the casing of the fuel cell unit. It is characterized by being formed on the surface.

Since hydrogen is lighter than air as described above, when a fuel cell unit is mounted on the floor behind a vehicle body, hydrogen gas generated in the unit fills the ceiling surface of the casing of the unit. Therefore, if the discharge port is provided on the highest surface of the casing, hydrogen gas in the unit can be efficiently collected. In this sense, the highest surface here means the highest surface in a vehicle-mounted state.

Although not particularly limited in the second and third aspects of the present invention, in the gas discharge structure for an on-vehicle fuel cell according to the fourth aspect, the second pipe includes an inner pipe through which the gas flows, and an inner pipe through which the gas flows. It is characterized by comprising a double tube of an outer tube to be covered, wherein a damping material is filled between the inner tube and the outer tube.

Since the second pipe is routed inside the pillar of the vehicle body, the second pipe is constituted by a double pipe having an inner pipe and an outer pipe, and a portion other than the gas flow path is filled with a vibration damping material. Thus, the exhaust gas flow path can be routed with good workability, and at the same time, the effect of the vibration damping material of the vehicle body can be obtained.

The method of filling the damping material between the inner tube and the outer tube of such a double tube is not particularly limited, but in the gas discharge structure for a vehicle-mounted fuel cell according to claim 5, the outer tube has A lower end is closed, and a filling port for filling the damping material is formed in the upper end.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the damping material can be easily filled by inserting the double pipe into the pillar and then injecting the damping material from the filling port.

[0018]

According to the invention as set forth in claims 1 to 5, from the back of the floor, through the inside of the bag structure of the side sill and the pillar,
Even when the vehicle is stopped, the gas is exhausted from the opening of the side roof rail, which is highly communicable with the atmosphere, so that the diffusion of this kind of exhaust gas into the atmosphere is significantly improved.

Further, when the first and second pipes are routed around the vehicle body, since the inside of the bag structure such as the side sill and the pillar is used, there is no problem in the design.
Further, by forming the opening through which the gas is discharged in a portion of the side roof rail that is concealed when the side door is closed, the design can be prevented from being impaired.

In addition, according to the third aspect of the invention, by providing the discharge port on the highest surface of the casing, the hydrogen gas in the unit can be efficiently collected.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the exhaust gas passage can be routed with good workability, and at the same time, the effect of the vibration damping material of the vehicle body can be obtained.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the workability of filling the vibration damping material becomes remarkably easy.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an automobile showing an embodiment of a gas discharge structure of an on-vehicle fuel cell of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, FIG. 3 is a rear view thereof, and FIG. 4 shows a fuel cell unit according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the front pillar portion of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a VI view of FIG.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing the center pillar of FIG. 1, FIG. 8 is a side view showing the rear pillar of FIG. 1, and FIG.
Is a perspective view showing the second pipe of FIG. 1, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing which follows the A line, the BB line, and the CC line.

In this embodiment, a gas discharge structure of a vehicle-mounted fuel cell according to the present invention will be described by taking a passenger car V as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 as an example. As shown in the figure, the fuel cell unit F according to the present embodiment is mounted on the floor behind a vehicle body B. When attaching the fuel cell unit F to the floor behind the vehicle body B, the fuel cell unit F is fixed to the underside body by bolts or the like using the side member 1 or the like constituting the underbody. In the illustrated example, the fuel cell unit F has approximately the size of the front body, so the casing 2 of the fuel cell unit F is fixed to the front side member and the rear side member.

As shown in FIG. 4, the casing 2 of the fuel cell unit F has a plurality of gas outlets 3 (six in this case) formed on the ceiling surface thereof. The casing 2 is formed so as to be inclined toward the outside in the width direction of the vehicle body B so as to form a surface (see the right diagram in FIG. 4). A first pipe 4 is attached to each gas outlet 3.

The first pipe 4 extends from the gas outlet 3 of the casing 2 of the fuel cell unit F to the inside of the side sill 6 through the floor panel 5. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first pipe 4 of the gas outlet 3 formed in the front part of the casing 2 penetrates the front floor panel 5 to reach the room, and from there, the side sill inner panel. The side sill 6 is circulated into the bag structure of the side sill 6 using various working holes formed in the side sill (for example, a hole for electrodeposition used in a painting process). In the example shown in the figure, three first pipes 4 are provided on each of the left and right sides, that is, a total of six pipes. The first pipes 4 penetrate the floor panel 5 from the position closest to each of the gas outlets 3 and are as short as possible. It is routed inside the side sill 6 so as to be at a distance.

On the other hand, in the bag structure of the front pillar 7, the center pillar 8 and the rear pillar 9, a second pipe 10
Is being handled. The second pipe 10 includes an inner tube 10a made of a fluororubber tube and an outer tube 10b also made of a thin and elastic film made of a fluororubber (hereinafter, referred to as a fluororubber film). ing.

As shown in FIG. 6, the lower end of a fluororubber tube 10a, which is an inner tube, has the first pipe 4a.
The upper end thereof is opened so as to communicate with each of the openings 12a to 12c of the side roof rail 11 described later. On the other hand, the fluoro rubber film 10b is formed to have a slightly shorter length than the fluoro rubber tube 10a, and the lower end thereof is formed of the fluoro rubber tube 10a.
It is closed except for the portion through which a penetrates (see FIG. 9). The upper end is opened, and a filling port 13 for a two-component curable urethane resin (corresponding to the vibration damping material according to the present invention) is provided here.

The filling port 13 is provided between the fluororubber tube 10a and the fluororubber membrane 10b in a state where the double pipe, which is the second pipe 10, is inserted into the bag structure of the pillars 7, 8, and 9. The structure is not particularly limited as long as the urethane resin can be easily injected into the space. In this example, a straw-shaped tube 13 is inserted in the space between the fluororubber tube 10a and the fluororubber film 10b in advance.

In the present embodiment, a total of six second pipes 10 are inserted into the front pillar 7, the center pillar 8, and the rear pillar 9, respectively.

The side roof rail 11 communicating with the upper end of the second pipe 10 has an opening 12.
a, 12b, and 12c are formed, and louvers 14a,
14b and 14c are mounted. These openings 12a-
Reference numeral 12c is formed at a position corresponding to the outside of the cabin in the bag structure of the side roof rail 11. In other words, the side roof rail 11 has the inside surface inside the vehicle compartment and the outside surface outside the vehicle compartment from the contact surface of the side door with the door strip rubber, so that the openings 12a to 12 according to the present embodiment.
c is formed at a portion located outside the vehicle compartment.

The openings 12a to 12c and the louvers 14a to 14c are formed at the upper part of the front pillar 7 (near the connection with the roof), the upper part of the center pillar 8 (also near the connection with the roof) and the rear pillar 9. A total of 6 in each of the upper part (also near the connection with the roof)
It is formed in places. Since such a portion has a very good ventilation to the atmosphere even when the vehicle is stopped as well as during traveling, the hydrogen gas rising through the first pipe 4 and the second pipe 10 It will be naturally diffused into the atmosphere.

Next, an example of a procedure for assembling the vehicle will be described.
First, a first pipe 4 is attached to each of the gas outlets 3 of the casing 2 in which the fuel cell system is built, and the first pipe 4 is attached to the floor behind the vehicle body B. The panel 5 is penetrated and taken around the room. On the other hand, the opening 12 formed on the upper part of each pillar 7, 8, 9
a to 12c, the second pipe 10 is inserted into the inner pipe 10a.
To the lower end of each pillar 7.8.9, and connects the first pipe 4 and the lower end of the fluoro rubber tube 10a. This connection may be made inside the side sill 6, but in consideration of workability, after connecting outside the side sill 6, the fluoro rubber tube 10
The connection portion may be housed in the side sill 6 by pulling a.

Next, urethane resin is injected from the filling port 13 and the outer rubber 10b, which is the outer tube 10b, is coated on each pillar 7,
Inflate and cure within the bag cross-sections 8 and 9. This state is shown in FIGS. In the same drawing, the portion painted black is the urethane resin. Finally, the openings 12a-1
The louvers 14a to 14c are mounted on 2c. Note that the above mounting method is merely an example, and can be appropriately changed according to the structure of the vehicle body and the circumstances of the mounting process.

As described above, according to the gas discharge structure of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell of this embodiment, the specific gravity of hydrogen gas is lower than that of air, and the fuel cell unit F
Is discharged from the side roof rail 11 via the side sill 6 and the pillars 7, 8, and 9, so that the gas is excellent in diffusing into the atmosphere and can be naturally exhausted without using a means such as forced exhaust. Further, in the present embodiment, since the pipings 4 and 10 are mainly arranged using a bag structure,
There is no need for a dedicated space separately, and the existing space can be adequately used.

In forming gas passages in the pillars 7, 8, and 9, a double pipe 10 capable of being filled with a vibration damping material is also provided.
Is adopted, so that not only the conventionally mounted damping material can be omitted, but also the problem that the workability of inserting the double pipe 10 deteriorates due to the presence of the damping material can be solved.

The embodiments described above are described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, since the gas discharge structure of the present invention is applied to a passenger car, the first and second gas discharge structures are used.
Although the piping arrangement described above has been described above, the gas discharge structure of the vehicle-mounted fuel cell of the present invention can be appropriately changed according to the structure of the vehicle to which the invention is applied.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an automobile showing an embodiment of a gas discharge structure of a vehicle-mounted fuel cell of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view and a rear view showing the fuel cell unit according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the front pillar portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a VI section in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the center pillar of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a rear pillar portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a second pipe of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along lines AA, BB, and CC of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 B ... body F ... fuel cell unit 1 ... side member 2 ... casing 3 ... gas outlet 4 ... first piping 5 ... floor panel 6 ... side sill 7 ... front pillar 8 ... center pillar 9 ... rear pillar 10 ... second piping 10a ... inner pipe 10b ... outer pipe 11 ... side roof rail 12a-12c ... opening 13 ... filling port 14a-14c ... louver

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3D003 AA00 AA06 AA08 BB02 CA17 CA33 CA34 CA35 CA40 DA11 DA13 3D038 BA09 BB04 BC05 3G004 AA01 DA01 DA14 FA08

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A fuel cell unit mounted on the back of a floor,
A gas exhaust structure for an in-vehicle fuel cell, comprising a gas exhaust passage extending through an inside of a side sill and a pillar of a vehicle body to an opening formed outside a cabin of a side roof rail. 2. A fuel cell unit mounted on the floor behind a vehicle body and having a gas outlet formed therein; a louver having an opening outside the cabin of a side roof rail of the vehicle body; Connected to the outlet,
A first pipe routed inside the side sill of the vehicle body, and a first pipe connected to the other end of the first pipe and the other end communicated with the opening of the louver. A gas discharge structure for an in-vehicle fuel cell, comprising: 3. The gas discharge structure for a vehicle-mounted fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein the gas outlet of the fuel cell unit is formed at the highest surface of a casing of the fuel cell unit. 4. The second pipe comprises a double pipe of an inner pipe through which the gas flows and an outer pipe covering the inner pipe, and a damping material is filled between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. The gas discharge structure for a vehicle-mounted fuel cell according to claim 2, wherein 5. The on-vehicle fuel cell according to claim 4, wherein a lower end of the outer tube is closed and a filling port for filling the damping material is formed at an upper end. Gas exhaust structure.